Gasta.com Keywords

Gasta search network

2010-11-13T07:17:00.000-08:00

Your advertisements will appear on the following 217 websites:-

* allinoneinsurance.eu
* americanos.gasta.com
* andersonstown.com
* andersonstown.net
* antrimtown.com
* ardglass.com
* armaghcity.org
* baldoyle.com
* ballsbridge.net
* ballyboden.com
* ballycastle.net
* ballyfermot.net
* ballymena.org
* ballymun.net
* ballynahinch.org
* baroneracing.com
* belfastcitycentre.com
* belfastlaganside.com
* belfastlaganside.com
* belfastonline.com
* belfastonline.net
* belfastwest.com
* bellaghy.com
* bellvue.net
* bessbrook.net
* blanchardstown.net
* botanicavenue.com
* boucherroad.com
* castlewellan.net
* cathedralquarter.com
* cavehill.net
* clarendondock.com
* coalisland.net
* colerainetown.com
* cookstown.org
* coolock.com
* cornmarket.com
* crawfordsburn.com
* crumlin.net
* cushendall.net
* cushendun.net
* danesfort.com
* derrycity.net
* doire.com
* doire.net
* donnybrook.net
* donnycarney.com
* downtownbelfast.com
* dublin4.net
* dublincitylive.com
* dublincityonline.com
* dublindocklands.net
* dublinharbour.com
* dublinnorthside.com
* dublinproperties.com
* dublinsouthside.com
* dungannon.net
* dungiven.net
* ebuyer.biz
* europasearch.co.uk
* europasearch.com
* finaghy.com
* forestside.com
* foyleside.com
* gasta.co.uk
* gasta.co.za
* gasta.com
* gasta.eu
* gasta.ie
* gasta.in
* gasta.tv
* gasta.us
* gastaplayzone.co.uk
* glenavy.net
* glensofantrim.net
* globalgateway.eu
* goatstown.com
* greatvictoriastreet.com
* greenisland.net
* groovle.biz
* haroldscross.com
* howth.net
* inchicore.com
* irvinestown.com
* isearchoz.com
* jordanstown.com
* jordanstown.net
* kilmainham.com
* ladybrook.com
* laganvalley.com
* lanyonquay.com
* latam.gasta.com
* latinamerica.gasta.com
* lenadoon.com
* lisburncity.net
* lisburnroad.com
* lisburnroad.net
* lisnaskea.net
* lurgan.net
* maghera.net
* magherafelt.net
* malonepark.com
* maloneroad.com
* matissemarketing.com
* merrionsquare.com
* money.gasta.com
* mufcsearch.co.uk
* mufcsearch.com
* newrycity.net
* newtownabbey.net
* newtownbutler.com
* northbelfast.net
* oconnellstreet.net
* ormeau.com
* penthousebelfast.com
* penthousedocklands.com
* penthousedublin.com
* penthouselondon.com
* phibsborough.com
* phoenixpark.org
* portstewart.net
* propertiesbelfast.com
* propertyarmagh.com
* propertybarnsley.com
* propertybelfast.com
* propertybelgravia.com
* propertybirmingham.com
* propertyblackburn.com
* propertybolton.com
* propertybrighton.com
* propertybristol.com
* propertybrittany.com
* propertyburnley.com
* propertybury.com
* propertybury.com
* propertycambridge.com
* propertychelmsford.com
* propertychelsea.com
* propertycheltenham.com
* propertycheshire.com
* propertycityoflondon.com
* propertycolchester.com
* propertycotswolds.com
* propertycrewe.com
* propertydarlington.com
* propertyderry.com
* propertyderry.com
* propertydocklands.com
* propertydoncaster.com
* propertydonegal.com
* propertydonegal.com
* propertydublin.com
* propertyedinburgh.com
* propertyengland.com
* propertygloucester.com
* propertyguernsey.com
* propertyhalifax.com
* propertyhampstead.com
* propertyhereford.com
* propertyipswich.com
* propertyisleofman.com
* propertyjersey.com
* propertykensington.com
* propertykent.com
* propertyknightsbridge.com
* propertylakedistrict.com
* propertyleicester.com
* propertylincoln.com
* propertyliverpool.com
* propertylondon.net
* propertyluton.com
* propertymanchester.com
* propertymansfield.com
* propertymayfair.com
* propertymiddlesbrough.com
* propertynewcastle.net
* propertynireland.com
* propertynormandy.com
* propertynorthampton.com
* propertynorwich.com
* propertyoldham.com
* propertyontv.com
* propertyoxford.net
* propertypeterborough.com
* propertyreading.com
* propertyrotherham.com
* propertysalisbury.com
* propertysheffield.com
* propertysoutheast.com
* propertysouthwest.com
* propertystockport.com
* propertysunderland.com
* propertysurrey.com
* propertytorquay.com
* propertywatford.com
* propertywigan.com
* propertywindsor.com
* propertywirral.com
* propertywrexham.com
* propertyyork.net
* queensisland.com
* ranelagh.net
* royalavenue.com
* searchgame.co.uk
* southarmagh.com
* southbelfast.com
* southbelfast.net
* stranmillis.com
* surfni.com
* talash.in
* titanicquarter.net
* travel.gasta.com
* ukproperty.net
* westbelfast.com
* westbelfast.net
* westbelfastonline.com
* westdublin.com

* Advertise
* Contact
* Privacy
* T & Cs

Gasta SEO: As good a guide as any from Fathom SEO

2010-08-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

Fathom SEO guide (short version)

With online marketing, there is never a shortage of data. At the end of the day, however, it’s not the data that matters. It’s about NEW dollars. To shape and adjust your marketing strategies, you clearly can’t ignore data such as;

How many people visit your website

What keyword consistently ranks well

Who agrees to link from their website to yours

Ultimately though, you’ll want to judge your efforts by leads and sales generated from the site. .
The performance of any online marketing initiative
comes down to three core steps:

Get (traffic)

Convert (visitors)

Measure (revenue drivers)

If you’re going to invest in online marketing – at any level – set your sights on how many leads
and how much revenue the effort drives.
What we’re talking about here is Return on Investment (ROI). In this case, the investment is in
online advertising (e.g. SEO, PPC, Online Video, Email, etc.), so we call it ROA, Return on
Advertising in this context.
Coordinating multiple facets of online advertising to maximize ROA is what we call Multilateral
Online Marketing (MOM), a new industry term coined by Fathom SEO that more accurately
expresses what it takes to succeed online – coordinating multiple programs that can efficiently
reach the right target audience when diverse disciplines work well together.
Each stage – Get, Convert and Measure – requires a great deal of know-how. The following
insights may help your business as you consider each step.
GET
You can’t generate money from your website until you GET
potential customers there. Traditional advertising can help
build awareness for your site, but we’ll focus on the online
opportunities. We’ll look at three of them:
SEO
PPC
Off-site (i.e. link building, online PR, social media)

SEO
In the most basic sense, SEO is about content. Great content improves a site’s ability to rank
well (i.e. GET more quality visitors) and more effectively engage potential customers. Yes, the
website must be technically sound so that search engines can reach the pages. And yes,
websites must be effectively optimized with title tags, page headers, etc. to help pages rank well.
But it’s really the breadth, depth and quality of the content (supported by relevant, strategic
keyword phrases) that helps attract high-quality visitors in the first place.
We liken content to fishing. If you drop one line in the water, you have one shot at catching a big
fish. Smart marketers essentially cast many lines at the same time - by expanding the breadth,
depth and quality of their website content using well-researched and targeted keyword phrases.
Once you have done the exhaustive research to identify and select which keywords are most
likely to GET the highest potential visitors in a reasonable amount of time, you can integrate
these terms into your content using proper SEO tactics. Too often, websites have limited text on
website pages. Sometimes a website simply has too few pages. Marketers should take stock of
their websites and be honest about what is lacking.
A robust content strategy is essential. Here are some ways to expand content:
• Create and promote an informative guide
• Develop and distribute a white paper
• Solicit user-generated content (encourage them to share their experiences or participate
in contests)
• Add a blog and get the word out
• Write articles
• Expand an FAQ section
• Build case studies
• Post employee bios
• Provide product/service details
• Create a glossary
• Review products
• Add a company history
• Develop a Featured Products section
• Add testimonials
• Add content from your newsletter or PDFs
• Develop a resources section
• Create videos and landing pages.

Here are 10 additional tips to help you make the most of your SEO efforts:

1. Know your target market.
Think of the many ways potential clients may be searching for your products or services.
2. Focus on website design.
Make sure your website has clear Calls to Action and navigation that will encourage visitors to
explore, learn and connect with your business.
3. Be realistic about keywords.
You may want to rank for a keyword phrase, but your website may not be poised to dominate the
major search engines for that term or phrase. You gain favor with search engines if you have a
keyword in your domain, your website is older than your competition and/or you have quality
inbound links pointing to your website. Your content and source code also must support the
keywords.
4. Write content – lots of content.
Extra pages can support your most important keywords and inspire many other search terms as
you develop your website.
5. Favor text headers (like the headlines on your Web pages).
Reinforced by H tags, the right combination of keywords in a page header can help with
rankings.
6. Add your blog as a directory, not a sub-domain.
A blog can support keyword themes and build up your core content. A blog also opens up new
opportunities for inbound links. Your blog should be on your domain, and not a disconnected
entity.
7. Write compelling Meta descriptions.
Meta descriptions have lost their influence on rankings, but they still appear within search engine
ranking results. Make sure yours include Calls to Action, company attributes and keywords that
resonate with the keywords used to find your website.
8. Get more links.
Add your website to free and paid directories. Write articles and add your company name and
link, when possible, to your bio. Issue news releases about the expertise you showcase on your
website.
9. Monitor your website analytics (Google is free).
Ongoing traffic analysis is a critical part of any SEO effort. You need to understand what
keywords are driving traffic and converting that traffic into leads or new customers.
10. Watch your rankings.
Sometimes a keyword ranks well on more than one page. Pay close attention so you can
determine what page is best positioned to help you achieve higher rankings.

PPC
Yes, PPC (Pay Per Click) costs money. But paid search marketing can help GET quality traffic
quickly. PPC can also support a coordinated effort by providing accelerated feedback that can
be used to inform the SEO strategy that is inherently more long–term, thus improving long-term
results. Create and test ads, pointing them to compelling content and strong Calls to Action.
Don’t hesitate to make custom landing pages specifically tailored to your ad. New pages may be
better than some of the existing ones on your website (that may lack clear offers or include
distracting navigation options).
Here are some other suggestions to help you make the most of your PPC campaigns:
• Do extensive keyword research
• Leverage geographic, time of day parameters
• Use vital defining options: phrase match (quotes) and exact match (brackets)
• Do A/B testing
• Don’t delay: revise ads
• Offer discounts
• Use clear Calls to Action and incentives (Order Today. Free Trial. Save 20%.)
• Make use of negative keywords
• Make sure conversion tracking is fully in place
• Track conversions, not just the click-thru rate (CTR)
Additionally, you should consider:
1. Plan your ads carefully.
With Google, for example, you want to create ads that are each supported by up to 15 relevant
keywords.
2. Make more than one campaign.
Daily budget caps are based on campaigns. You may want more than one campaign so as to
have freedom with your ads. When all ads share the same budget, they will not appear as often.
3. Bid on branded keywords.
They convert well, but some travel companies avoid the branded keywords because they’re
already ranking well with organic search. Branded keywords often don’t cost much and the paid
search conversions can make for a profitable investment.
4. Don’t get too greedy and miss an opportunity.
Some businesses back away from keywords that aren’t as profitable as others. But you need to
know your numbers. If a keyword is profitable, it may be worth keeping. Don’t just focus on the
exceptional or high-volume performers.
5. Be careful with broad match.
Broad match is often inexpensive and drives a lot of traffic, but the relevancy of the audience
may miss the mark.
6. Content Match in Google can hurt campaigns.
Content Match can work – if you’re careful and watch your spend. The ads appear with relevant
content outside of Google, but the people who click may not be in a buying mode (perhaps
they’re doing research or simply clicking out of curiosity).
7. Share conversion data with your SEO team.
The SEO specialists will want to know what’s performing. But don’t assume that your No. 1
position for a paid ad will be No. 1 in the natural search engine results. Your success will depend
on your content, site age and many other factors.
8. Make custom landing pages.
Often a website design has weaknesses and a custom paid search page can offer compelling,
targeted content with a clear Call to Action.
9. Make paid search pages without all of your navigation.
For e-commerce, some navigation may be necessary to help someone buy what you’re selling.
In many cases, however – if you just want a lead – you can focus on one offer per landing page
and prompt someone to fill out a short form or call your toll-free number.
10. Bid up on profitable keywords.
Do you have a keyword that is profitable for you yet its average position is below 1.5? Raise
your maximum cost per click and you'll almost assuredly see more clicks and conversions.
Another way to get higher rankings is to improve your quality score by writing specific ad copy
for that keyword and putting it into its own ad group. Within a few weeks, if you write your ad
copy well and achieve a good click-thru-rate (CTR), you should see your quality score increase
and your average rankings go up with no additional cost.

A little creativity and the right relationships can help GET visitors from sources beyond your
website. Of course, your website is actually the main draw. A person will link to your website if
you have outstanding content worth someone’s time. Showcase and market your expertise.
Don’t hold back. Here are some best practices to follow:
• Write articles for industry magazines and newsletters
• Post pieces to popular e-zines
• Issue news releases (about your new products, educational guides, studies, trends)
• Produce and distribute videos
• Pay for links from relevant websites
• Get free links from relationships (i.e. you sell men’s jeans and another site sells shoes)
• Participate in online communities
• Join trade groups and other organizations

CONVERT
It’s time to land the fish! Conversion opportunities abound. You simply need to ask visitors to
engage – no matter how they GET to your website. Even if they simply sign up for a newsletter,
that’s a conversion that may ultimately lead to a sale. You still end up with an email that’s
invaluable. Stay in touch with your leads through email campaigns (you can even schedule how
often you’ll follow up).
Some of the most obvious conversion opportunities involve forms and trackable phone numbers.
With phone numbers, you should make sure they’re clearly seen. Too often, websites “hide”
them on a Contact Us page or bury them at the bottom of a page or even after the copyright
notice. Even though a potential customer is on your Internet website, many still prefer to pick up
the phone when they reach out to engage.
Forms should be clear, attractive and as brief as possible. Don’t just say “Contact Us Today.”
Introduce the form with “Make an Appointment Today” or “Download Our XYZ Guide.”
Throughout the content, you should remind the visitor that he or she can get more information by
following linked text or calling a number. Why wait until the end of the page to entice the reader?
Make an appeal high on the page.
Be sure to include a different number solely for the website to avoid confusion with other
marketing efforts. In fact, Fathom SEO offers Call Tracking - a way to record calls and track
potential customers who convert by calling you. Call-in conversions can be tied to natural search
engine visits and paid search activity.
The following graphic illustrates just a few of the many ways you can encourage a potential
customer to connect with your business.
Here are some best practices to use for conversions:
1. Focus on one primary CTA
• Each page of the website should have one primary call to action, not multiples.
If you have another primary call to action, it should have its own page. This is a
great opportunity to up-sell the client.
• Depending on the site, you may want to use a secondary CTA. This might be a
good idea for a home page, but not for a dedicated landing page.
2. Simple, clear and compelling
• Your primary CTA should be simple, clear and compelling. Remember, your
goal is to get the user to complete a certain action. Your primary concern is that
they know what that action is and how to complete it.
• Show them why they want to visit your website, buy your product, get more
information, etc. Show them the benefits to following your CTA immediately.
They’re only concerned with what’s in it for them.
3. Keep it above the fold
• The CTA should be the first thing a person sees when they visit the page. Your
primary CTA should be placed at the top of the page, or just below the header.
Also, be sure that the button, link or form used to complete the action also
completely appears above the fold.

• Above the fold is within the first 650 vertical pixels of the page. 90% of users
have a screen resolution height of 768px or greater. You must also factor in
approximately 100px for the browser.
http://www.w3counter.com/globalstats.php
4. Make it stand out
• The CTA should stand out from the rest of the page. Whether as a headline,
button or in the copy, make it different. You want to be sure it catches the eye
and does not blend in with the rest of the page. Some studies have shown that
the color of the CTA doesn’t matter as long as it stands out from the rest of the
page. Don’t be afraid to experiment with bright colors and adjust the size of
your CTA.
5. Page Design
• The design of the page should be created with the primary CTA in mind. It
should be done so that it supports this CTA and does not distract the user from
completing the action. In most cases, a simple design will work better than
something complicated and busy.
6. Page Copy
• The CTA should follow and build upon what you’ve already said in the text.
Some readers may want to read your entire page before making a decision;
some will scan or read just a few sentences before deciding if the product or
service is for them. Make sure there are CTAs in different locations to appeal to
these different types of people.
7. Location, Location, Location
• Your primary CTA should be used at the top of the page as well as on the form,
on the submit button, in the headlines and in the supporting copy. It is important
to also include a call to action at the bottom of the page so users don’t have to
scroll back up to the top of the page.
8. Testing
• You will never know if your call to action is effective without testing. No matter
how much traffic your site gets, you can do testing. Even A/B testing simple
things such as headlines and submit buttons can yield valuable results.
Examples:

MEASURE
A business can measure its efforts in many ways, but the most significant ones should boil down
to costs and new revenue. When you are able to measure the results of your online advertising
efforts, you can identify and replicate the most profitable activity.
Marketers should be able to compare search engine advertising (including SEO) to other forms
of advertising. What ROA does the company normally get for direct mail, TV, radio, tradeshows
and the like? For every dollar invested, what kind of sales can be expected? Does $1 invested in
an advertising campaign result in $4, $5, $7, $10 or more in revenue? When you are able to
measure your advertising efforts based on ROA, deciding on how to spend your precious
advertising dollars becomes clearer. ROA brings objective accountability to the forefront of
advertising spend decision-making.
Here are some basic questions to ask about your ROA:
• How do you market apart from SEO and Paid Search?
• How much do you spend to get a lead?
• How many leads do you need to get a sale?
• What is your average sale?
• What is your sales cycle?
• How are your most important products selling?
Understanding your sales cycle is crucial. If you have a sales pipeline, you can anticipate how
many pending deals are likely to convert over time (given historical data).
Before new leads roll in, it’s OK to start with some basic Key Performance Indicators (KPIs),
especially for an SEO program that takes time. If the KPIs are on track, we can anticipate that
the ROA is on its way.
The following GET KPIs reflect a scoring system based on improving organic ranking results.
Visibility, for example, refers to an index that rewards rankings with points – a No. 1 ranking gets
more points than a No. 99 ranking. Visibility trending is a snapshot of ranking progress. As
rankings improve, quality traffic improves, leading to more opportunities to CONVERT quality
visitors into revenue, which drives ROA.

Branding
Sometimes companies don’t sell anything directly as a result of their online advertising efforts.
Their goal is to increase awareness, not necessarily drive direct leads or sales. They attract
traffic for branding purposes and use the website to send visitors to dealers, retailers and more.
It’s possible to track many metrics. The aim should be to define what data is most essential
during different phases of a program. The tactics are the same: GET, CONVERT, MEASURE.
However, some KPIs (vs. ROA) may become the MEASURE focus. Here are just a few of the
possibilities;

Strategic keyword top 1, 5, 20, 30 rankings (per engine)
Search engine traffic
Overall traffic
Search engine traffic as a percentage of overall traffic
Page views
Traffic to a targeted page
PDF downloads
Newsletter sign-ups
Referring traffic (from other sites)
Indexed pages (how many pages/files are recognized by search engines)
Bounce rate (percentage of visitors who quickly leave the website)
Time on the website
Video performance (i.e. views)
Most-searched keyword phrases (branded vs. non-branded)
Call Tracking
Marketers also should leverage
Call Tracking for added insights.
A large portion of potential customers to your site prefer to CONVERT by picking up the phone. To effectively measure the results of your online advertising efforts, the calls must be included as conversions. Phone calls can be recorded and the call frequency can be measured in multiple ways
(including whether the call started with an organic or a paid search):

Automatically route calls based on pre-assigned rules
Place the phone number in PPC search ads and avoid pay-per-click charges.

Cost per Lead – Lower Isn’t Always Better
As you track and analyze results, keep in mind that achieving the lowest cost per lead should not
necessarily be the main objective. Sometimes leads may cost more, but result in more sales. By
measuring ROA, the picture becomes much clearer.

Gasta Keywords

2010-04-26T09:40:00.000-07:00

How to Target your Website’s Visitors for Optimized Traffic
Daniel McDowell is CEO of DLM International LLC
Over the past decade, the web has grown to such a scale that there are websites covering every single topic under the sun. Due to the sheer scale of it, it is near impossible to pin point the exact number of websites which are on the web; however, statistics show that in February 2007 there were an estimated 29.7 billion pages on web. Taking into consideration the speed in which the web has grown since it’s beginnings in the 1990’s, it is safe to say that this number has increased greatly over the past three years. When it comes to using the internet in connection to our business, targeting the right customers can be hard due to the level of competition our website has. There are various methods in which we may attempt to attract the right visitors as a means to increase our traffic, but some of the most effective methods are in actual fact the cheapest and easiest methods.

Increasing your website’s traffic is all about making your presence known on the web. Marketing and advertising strategies are the main way in which to do this, but in terms of traditional business these can be costly and take sometime to be effective. However, the internet is a fast paced business which allows for your campaigns to be made live in a much shorter space of time, as well as lowering your costs to almost nothing. One of the best ways in which to target visitors is through the use of back links. These can be placed on a wide variety of sites which gain high traffic such as social networking websites and blog sites, but can also be placed on other sites which you can partner up with, exchanging links. When using back links, the first thing you must take into consideration is what your website/product is and what your target market is. In doing this, you will have a clearer idea of what the best sites will be for you to target as irrelevant sites or sites which receive a low level of traffic will be of no use to your website. If you are fortunate to have capital to use, you can also use the aid of Pay per Click schemes. Large search engine sites such as Google can offer this to you but before deciding on this as a means to help your traffic, think about how much you can honestly afford as not to risk a loss in profits.

As businesses look for cheap ways in which to promote their websites, there has been a great increase in the amount of blogs and article directory sites on the web. These allow you to promote your product or service, as well as providing a link back to your website all for the simple exchange of your content on the website. This is a great way in which to gain more back links to your website, as well as s great method of advertising and self promotion. Different websites will have their own guidelines in terms of what you may submit to their sites, but in most cases this is one of the easiest ways in which to promote your business for free. The more external websites you use, the more links you will accumulate on the web which will help your overall traffic level. However, ensure you submit content to reputable sites which have some kind of relevance to your website so that you are targeting the right visitors for your market.

Finally there is one of the most beneficial forms of advertisement- word of mouth marketing. This is not necessarily something which you can achieve yourself, but rather a method of marketing which is completed by your current customers and visitors for free. Word of mouth marketing works by users of your site adding their own back links on to websites in the form of link sharing. Many companies and websites have benefited from this increasing their traffic thanks to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. The way in which you can help this become possible is by providing a website and service which is worth talking about. By doing your own part in terms of promoting your website and your own marketing strategies on sites such as these, they are more likely to be noticed by visitors who will then be motivated to visit them. If they like what they see, they can then use bookmarking and other back linking methods to share with other web users they know, thus providing you with free marketing.

Generating traffic to your site is simple when you take into consideration what is right for your website. By looking at the way in which other websites are using the web to promote themselves, you too will soon discover the benefits which come from using simple, yet effective marketing techniques and see your traffic levels soar.

Daniel McDowell is CEO of DLM International LLC which operates globally providing products and services to their many clients, operating a variety of websites in many countries. To find out more about getting traffic to a website go to: http://www.trafficgrabsystem.com

Gasta Keywords

2010-04-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

Entrepreneur country

Monitise achieves two major milestones
Developing shareholdings and incentive packages
French 'superangel' network announces €25m first fund close
Join us at the upcoming Entrepreneur Country forum, In A World With No Money... 16 June 2010, London
Entrepreneurs Petition against AIFM Directive - Act by Sunday 25 April !

You'll find interviews with many of the UK and Europe's leading entrepreneurs at www.entrepreneurcountry.net.

Monitise Achieves Two Major Milestones
Leading mobile banking and payments provider Monitise has reached two key milestones over the last week. Firstly the company announced it now has over 2 million registered users in the UK and the US, driven by increased uptake of its smartphone apps, and secondly, it has achieved a market capitalisation of £102m.

Monitise provides its secure Mobile Money Manager platform to over 240 banks and financial institutions in the US and UK, with 100 million transactions processed by the platform every year.

Soren Bested, managing director of Monitise Americas commented: “Activity across the Monitise platform continues to increase, servicing millions of transactions every month as we enable more services by text, mobile app, and browser. Smartphones continue to have a big impact on mobile banking - downloading an app and banking on their handset is becoming second nature to many users.”

In the UK, Monitise has partnerships with major retail banks including HSBC, Lloyds TSB, first direct, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Ulster Bank. In the US, Monitise Americas provides mobile banking and payments services to over 200 financial institutions including banks, credit unions, and prepaid card issuers.

Developing shareholdings and incentive packages

by Andrew Moss, corporate finance partner at Duncan Sheard Glass

Issuing or selling shares can often represent a complex challenge for even the most savvy entrepreneurs to negotiate. Where a business is family-run or has personal ties, such decisions can take on an additional, emotive complication.

Whether considering a partial exit, employee share options or recruiting a non-executive, the decision must be made with the express purpose of improving the business. If the overall value of the business consequently increases, the remainder held by the entrepreneur should exceed the whole had the transaction not happened.

When a business owner has resolved to release shares in their business, a shareholder agreement can provide protection for all parties involved.

When drafting the agreement, entrepreneurs should include clauses that allow them to continue drawing money from the business in dividend form for tax purposes without being hamstrung by paying dividends to other shareholders under present legislation. This can usually be achieved quite easily by using different classes of shares.

Shareholder agreements will generally contain specific clauses to determine what happens upon exit and, perhaps more importantly, protect the majority and minority shareholders by barring one from selling their holding and leaving the other vulnerable. Imagine the consequences of a competitor gaining a shareholding in your business.

Read the article here

French 'superangel' network announces €25m first fund close

France's internet entrepreneurs look set to receive a boost with the announcement last week that ISAI, a 'superangel' fund started by some of France's most experienced internet entrepreneurs, has held a first close of €25m.

The fund, which bills itself as "by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs", plans to invest in round sizes between business angels and traditional VCs. ISAI aims to invest in 12 businesses with strong growth potential over the next 12 years. It will put EUR 500,000 to EUR 1.5 million into internet companies less than five years old that have gone through the proof-of-concept phase.

The fund's founding partners include Pierre Kosciusko-Morizet, founder of French e-commerce site PriceMinister.com, Phone House France's Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux, Former AOL CEO Stéphane Treppoz, and serial entrepreneur Ouriel Ohayon.

Jean-David Chamboredon, previously the head of 3i's VC arm in France, will lead the fund. His track record as a VC is impressive out of 11 early stage investments, 10 are either profitable, have been acquired or completed IPOs.

The majority of the fund comes from 60 founders who will act as a "brain trust" for ISAI, potentially taking board seats and co-investing personally alongside the ISAI fund.

In A World With No Money...

Entrepreneur Country Forum
16 June 2010
IET London: Savoy Place

We're pleased to announce a superb speaker line-up for our next Entrepreneur Country Forum, In A World With No Money...

The economic landscape today is perhaps the most challenging it has ever been for entrepreneurs looking to start businesses and companies trying to grow and expand. With investment capital scarce, businesses of all sizes are being forced to develop alternative growth strategies which are less reliant on substantial cash injections from external investors.

Founded by BBC Online Dragon and CEO of Ariadne Capital Julie Meyer, this must-attend event brings together entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders involved in the world of high-growth internet and technology businesses.

Top quality speakers will address the challenges of doing business in a world with no money:

Julie Meyer - CEO, Ariadne Capital
Lex Fenwick - Chairperson, Bloomberg LP
Rob Hersov - entrepreneur, catalyst and investor
Dominique Vidal - Partner, Index Ventures, co-founder of Kelkoo
Judy Piatkus - founder, Piatkus Books
Alex Cheatle - founder and CEO, Ten Lifestyle Management
Guy Rigby - Head of Entrepreneurs, Smith & Williamson
The day includes pitching sessions, lively panel debates, a showcase of pioneering digital businesses and workshops focused on specific business challenges.

In recognition of the challenging business environment and the theme of the forum, we are offering News, Views and Issues readers a super discount of £200 off the full delegate rate, bringing it down to a very affordable £95!

This is a limited time offer, available only until 14 May 2010, so register now using the discount code NVI2010 to secure your place.
http://entrepreneurcountry.eventbrite.com

If you have any queries, please contact enquiries@entrepreneurcountry.net

Entrepreneurs Petition against AIFM Directive - Act by Sunday 25 April !

Blog post from Fred Destin, Partner at Atlas Ventures

Euro Entrepreneurs, time to lobby! By this Sunday night, April 25, we need to get a significant number of European entrepreneurs to help the European Venture Capital Association in lobbying the EU and signing a petition against this damaging Directive.

Vote against an extensive Directive that will damage European Venture:

The directive sets out a number of measures ill-suited to venture capital and the financing of innovation. This is because it is designed to be a catch-all regulatory blanket that encompasses everyone from hedge funds to venture firms. The impact on both VC firms and startups is potentially significant:

Discriminatory disclosure requirements and administrative burden affecting startups backed by venture capital
Cost of compliance estimated at €30,000 per year for your companies
Absurd capital requirements imposed on venture firms
Requirement to use outside depositaries (i.e. custodians) and independent valuation agents, adding cost and complexity
There is a detailed review of these measures on EVCA.eu under "AIFM Directive". In a striking survey, the EVCA finds that 2/3 of investors questioned would reduce allocations to venture as a result of proposed regulation.

By emailing EVCA you will become a co-signatory to a letter published below, prepared by a fellow entrepreneur, Tom Van Aken of Avantium:

We represent a slice of the 25,000-plus population of European businesses that currently benefit from private equity and venture capital support. We are therefore increasingly alarmed by proposals within the EU’s draft Alternative Investment Fund Management Directive that would prejudice private equity and venture capital-backed companies such as ours, and ultimately restrict access to finance for Europe’s growth companies.

Act now:

Send an email to replies@evca.eu stating name, company name and HQ location and titled "Entrepreneur Petition against AIFM Directive"

Gasta Keywords

2010-04-20T06:33:00.000-07:00

The SEO industry is still in its infancy stage whether you want to admit it or not. The search engines are very young and sites like Google are just starting to get things right in the sense of really understanding how to catalog and display search data for users. Some websites come and go in short burst of energy and some stick around for the long haul. The same goes with various marketing efforts.

It is important to never avoid a marketing effort simply because you think it will not stick around for long. I still hear people say that Twitter is short winded and it will only be here for just a few years. Even if it is shouldn’t you be there trying to scoop up new business while you can? Everything in life is evolving including the business world. The internet has created a fast moving platform for people to express themselves and to communicate on. Regardless of an efforts life cycle you should always be using it to market yourself. In today’s marketplace there is no time or room for denial. Websites and marketing efforts move in large sweeping motions so it is important to take advantage of any new or existing marketing effort you can incorporate into your business plan.

5 Years ago MySpace was the big dog in the industry. Now the numbers have been steadily declining for about the last 24 months while websites like Facebook and Twitter have seen explosive growth leaping frogging the competition almost overnight. During the height of the MySpace era lots of businesses made a great deal of money and grew their business marketing themselves in that specific online community. Now the demographic has really shifted away as they continue to lose more users but that doesn’t mean that MySpace should have been avoided all together. If nobody used it years ago many of those businesses would not have made the revenues they did if they chose to avoid it all together. The point is many online communication vehicles are always changing so it is important to hop on now than to regret later you didn’t even show up for the party.

Gasta Ireland Facts

2010-04-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

The most northerly point is Inishtrahull Island, situated in the Atlantic Ocean 7 km north of Inishowen Peninsula, county Donegal. It lies at latitude 55.43ºN. Of mainland Ireland, the most northerly point is a headland 2 km northeast of Malin Head, Inishowen Peninsula, county Donegal. It lies at latitude 55.38ºN.
Most easterly point The most easterly point is Big Bow Meel Island, which is a rock situated 900 metres off the Ards Peninsula, county Down, at longitude 5.42ºW. Of mainland Ireland, the most easterly point is Burr Point, Ards Peninsula, county Down at longitude 5.43ºW. It is situated 2 km southeast of the village of Ballyhalbert.
Most southerly point The most southerly point is Fastnet Rock, which lies in the Atlantic Ocean 11.3 km south of mainland county Cork. It lies at latitude 51.37ºN. Of mainland Ireland, the most southerly point is Brow Head, county Cork, which lies 3.8 km east of the marginly more northerly Mizen Head. It lies at latitude 51.43ºN.
Most westerly point* The most westerly point is Tearaght Island, which lies in the Atlantic Ocean 12.5 km west of Dingle Peninsula, county Kerry. It lies at longitude 10.70ºW. Of mainland Ireland, the most westerly point is Garraun Point, Dingle Peninsula, county Kerry which is 2.5 km northwest of Slea Head. It lies at longitude 10.51ºW.
Geographical Centres

* The geographical centre of Ireland is to be found in eastern county Roscommon, at a point 3km (2 miles) south of Athlone town.
* The centre of Ulster is in county Tyrone, at a point 20km (14 miles) east of Omagh town, near the village of Pomeroy.
* The centre of Munster is in the north of county Cork, at a point 9km (6 miles) south-west of the village of Rath Luirc.
* The centre of Leinster is in western county Kildare, at a point 5km (3 miles) south-west of Kildare town.
* The centre of Connaught is in county Mayo, 6km (4 miles) south-east of the pilgrim village of Knock.
* The centre of Northern Ireland is in eastern county Tyrone, at a point 6km (4 miles) south-east of the town of Cookstown.
* The centre of the Republic of Ireland is in south-eastern county Galway, at a point 3km (2 miles) south-west of the village of Eyrecourt.

Highest altitude The summit of Mt Carrantuohill, county Kerry, rises to 1,041 metres (3414 feet) above sea level. The second highest point is the summit of Mt Beenkeragh, county Kerry, which rises to 1,010 metres (3314 feet) above sea level. The highest point in Northern Ireland is the summit of Slieve Donard, county Down, which rises to 852 metres (2796 feet) above sea level, and is the 8th highest peak in Ireland.
Tallest sea cliffs The sea cliffs at Croaghaun, Achill Island off western Ireland fall 668 metres (2,192 feet) into the Atlantic Ocean. Slieve League in county Donegal has a drop of 601 metres (1,972 feet) into the same ocean. Both cliffs are almost twice the height of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. However, as there is no vantage point to see the cliffs at Achill Island the Donegal cliffs are more famous.
(thanks to Michele of irelandyes.com for this information)
Most populated county The most heavily populated county is county Dublin, with 1,056,666 inhabitants at the last estimate. The next most heavily populated county is Antrim, with 566,400 inhabitants.
Most densely populated county The most densely populated county is county Dublin, with 1147.3 inhabitants per square kilometre at the last estimate. The next most densely populated is county Antrim, with 199.2 inhabitants per square kilometre.
Least populated county The county with the fewest inhabitants is county Leitrim with just 25,032 inhabitants at the last estimate. The next lowest is county Longford with 30,128 inhabitants.
Most sparsely populated county The most sparsely populated county in Ireland is Leitrim, with a mere 15.8 inhabitants per square kilometre at the last estimate. The next most sparsely populated is county Mayo, which has 19.9 inhabitants per square kilometre.
Largest settlements The largest city in Ireland is Dublin, which at 859,976 inhabitants, is home to almost 1 in 5 Irish people, and more than 1 in 4 in the Irish Republic. The next 9 largest settlements are Belfast (counties Down and Antrim, 475,968), Cork (county Cork, 174,400), Limerick (county Limerick, 75,436) Derry (county Londonderry, 72,334), Newtownabbey (county Antrim, 56,811), Dún Laoghaire (county Dublin, 55,540), Bangor (county Down, 52,437), Galway (county Galway, 50,853) and Lisburn (county Antrim, 42,110). More towns.
Largest county In terms of area, the largest county in Ireland is county Cork at 7,457 km². The next largest is county Galway, at 6,148 km². The largest county in Northern Ireland is county Tyrone, at 3,155 km².
Smallest county The smallest county in Ireland is county Louth, which is just 820 km² in area - 9 times smaller than county Cork. The next smallest is county Carlow, which is 896 km². The smallest county in Northern Ireland is county Armagh, at 1,254 km².
Longest river The longest river in Ireland is the river Shannon whose source is Shannon Pot, county Cavan, and which enters the sea between counties Clare and Limerick after a journey of 386 km (240 miles). It is, in fact, the longest river in the British Isles. The longest river within Northern Ireland is the river Bann, whose source is in the Mourne Mountains, county Down and which enters the sea in county Londonderry after 122 km (76 miles).
Largest lake Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland, which is 396 km² (153 miles²) in area. It forms part of counties Tyrone, Londonderry, Antrim, Down and Armagh. It is, in fact, the largest lake in the British Isles.
Closest to Britain The closest point that Ireland comes to Britain is Torr Head, county Antrim, which is just 23 km (14 miles) from the Mull of Kintyre, Scotland. On most days, fields in Scotland can be seen clearly across the North Channel.
Largest island Besides Ireland itself (82,463 km²) the largest offshore island in Irish waters is Achill island, county Mayo, with an area of 148 km² (57 miles²).
Tallest waterfall Ireland's tallest waterfall is Powerscourt Falls, county Wicklow, where the water drops 106 metres (350 feet). It is the third tallest waterfall in the British Isles.
Sunniest town The town in Ireland which enjoys the most sunshine is Rosslare, county Wexford which has over 1600 hours of sunshine per year (4 hrs, 20 mins per day).
Cloudiest town The town in Ireland which receives the least sunshine is Omagh, county Tyrone which has less than 1200 hours of sunshine per year (3 hrs, 20 mins per day).
Wettest place The wettest place in Ireland is the area of the Maumturk and Partry mountains of counties Mayo and Galway, which receive annually over 2400 mm of rain.
Driest place The driest place in Ireland is Dublin city which receives less than 800 mm of rain per year.

*Excludes Rockall Island, which is situated in the north Atlantic 440 km northwest of county Donegal. Although it is merely an uninhabited outcrop of rock a few tens of metres across, it is important in that whoever owns it can claim the fishing and oil rights around it. It is currently in dispute between Iceland, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and Denmark. Rockall Island is at latitude 57.61ºN, longitude 13.70ºW.

Gasta Search Network - Working to build your promotions

2010-03-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

Gasta Search Network - Working to build an honest web:
Gasta Search Network dot com has grown from one of the World's largest blog networks,
www.Gasta Search Network. We provide three simple packages to get your brand some online conversations and buzz. Whether you simply want blog reviews or would like someone
to help and manage your social media presence online, we've got it covered. We have
unique relationships with over 30,000 bloggers and a network growing by the hour.
Blogging & Social Media Conversations:

If you already have a good website, twitter account, facebook page and a blog but need
to get conversations online and buzzing, this is the option for you. We will give you the
following online exposure:
-Newsletter mention and link to your site, sent to over 25,000 blogger subscribers on
Gasta Search Network.
-20 guaranteed quality true online reviews, written by bloggers from the country or
countries you choose. people searching for products like yours or even looking for your

competitors
products will come across the quality blog reviews mentioning and linking to your
product for years to come.

- Twitter mentions per week through-out the campaign to over 12,500 followers
pointing to your twitter account and most bloggers would be either tweeting their blog
post (to their hundreds and thousands of followers) or retweeting our tweets.
-Banner advert on Gasta Search Network for one month.

-A round-up blog post on the Gasta Search Networkblog blog when the campaign is complete.
Blogging & Social Media Starter Pack:

This package is ideal for any businesses aware of the importance of social media and
online marketing but with little time or expertise on how to implement it into their
marketing strategy. Instead of hiring a "social media" member of staff or an expensive
PR company, we can take care of the hard work to get you started online immediately
and provide instant return on your investment.

We also provide help with managing
your online reputation. For additional fees, we can actually manage your blog, twitter
and facebook accounts on an ongoing basis for you.
As part of the service to kick off your online identity it needs a social media campaign of
which we will run using our blogging community of over 30,000 bloggers.
-Newsletter sent to over 25,000 blogger subscribers
-20 reviews of your product/service by targeted bloggers who will link back to your
product page, twitter account and write an honest opinion based on their experience
with your product.

-Banner ad on Gasta Search Network for the duration of the campaign.
-7 tweets per week to over 2,500 highly influential people through our twitter account.
-A round-up blog post on the FMB blog when the campaign is complete.
-Start you up with vital tools and online accounts such as: twitter, flickr, company blog,
facebook page.
-Report on your online buzz during the campaign to help you manage your online
reputation and encourage you to build relationships with potential customers and online
influencers.
-Access to the Gasta Search Networkblog guide on how to optimize your online campaigns

using social
media.
Get Online With Social Media Monthly Ongoing:

Campaigns as above but spread over one year, we'll manage your campaign with a
guaranteed 2 blog reviews per month, totaling 24 reviews, we'll manage your online
feeds and presence, ensuring a minimum of two posts per week with content relevant to
your audience including twitter and facebook feeds. Ongoing training and twitter/
facebook support and help with managing your brand,
1 x Newsletter mention per quarter with link to your site, sent to over 25 000 blogger
subscribers.
24 x guaranteed quality true online reviews, written by bloggers from the country or
countries you choose. We even allow you to target the type of blog for example "work
at home Mom's" Each blogger is physically sent your product or given a code to try your
service out. They will use correct linking methodology (SEO) and ensure their readers
know where to purchase your product or service. Because of the validity of blog
reviews, people searching for products like yours or even looking for your competitors
products will come across the quality blog reviews mentioning and linking to your
product for years to come.
1 x Twitter mentions per month mentioning relevant news to an audience made up of
PR, Journalists and Bloggers.
1 x Rotating banner advert on Gasta Search Network.
1 x Kick-off blog post on the Gasta Search Networkblog blog and round-up when the

campaign is
complete.

Gasta Tech News: NISP CONNECT

2010-03-11T10:53:00.000-08:00

New York City launches a CONNECT after being inspired in Belfast? Yup. Check it out here…

Hot event listings and updates from Digital NI 2020, halo and Normans blog all below…..

Upcoming Events

NISP CONNECT Frameworks workshops present:
“IP Protection for Startups”
Wed 24th April, 2010 @ Northern Ireland Science Park
By Alan Wallace and Mark Earnshaw

Today’s competitive environment has made it increasingly difficult and important to stay ahead of the competition by adapting a coherent approach to Intellectual Property and the exploitation of the advantages IP can provide them with. In order to exploit this in the company's favour, it is essential that the basics of IP is known and identified. The workshop will help to demystify any common concerns with IP and give a broad understanding of the topic.

Click here for further details

NISP CONNECT Frameworks workshops present:
“The Venture Capital Process”
Thurs 15th April 2010, Northern Ireland Science Park

Click here for further details

Halo Investor Forum
28th April 2010, @ Northern Ireland Science Park

Registered angels, guests and pitching companies only

25k Award: Search for the Next Big Thing: Registration Open

The 2010 25k award: the Search for the Next Big Thing is underway. The purpose of the Awards is to identify, qualify, prepare and present the intellectual property from the publicly funded research base in Northern Ireland with the most commercial potential.

The competition is now open for registrations under the following categories: Hitech, Biotech, CleanTech and Digital Media & Software.

Click here for further details

halo News

HALO LAUNCHES NEW FUND

Halo, the NI Business Angel Network, is well known for running ‘Dragon’s Den for NI’. So for example at its February meeting 55 business angels assembled to watch 7 pitches from local start up companies.

However, in a new and radical bid to further increase private investment in NI companies, halo has launched its own business fund. Managed by Javelin Ventures, a London-based FSA regulated fund manager, the Halo Business Angels EIS Fund will provide for co-investment alongside the halo angels. The fund, which is itself only open to business angels to invest in, allows their money to be pooled and spread across a number of NI companies. This, along with EIS tax relief, has significant advantages for the investors while increasing the amount of money available to be invested in companies.

This fund, only the second of its type in Britain, will close for investment in March and should be looking to co-invest in halo companies from April.

The deadline to apply for the second of this year’s 5 halo meetings is 28th March, so if you have a high growth-potential company seeking investment, apply soon on http://www.nisp.co.uk/NISP-Halo-Entrepreneurs.aspx.

Norman's blog: “Choosing your Next steps at school”
Norman Apsley, NISP Chief Executive

I understand that this is about the time of year that each cohort of pupils in each key stage begins to choose the subjects of the next stage. So KS 3 pupils will be selecting their GCSE subjects and KS4 their AS and A-level courses. Now let me say immediately, I’m not for giving advice. These selections are so personal and so significant that only the pupils and their advisors can take on that responsibility.

I will say what happened to me. Science, especially Physics and Mathematics, fell into my lap and especially by the stage of A-level, it couldn’t have been any other way. That doesn’t mean I don’t have some regrets. My inability to choose between the Arts and the Sciences earlier, meant that my O-level [aka GCSE] curriculum couldn’t fit in Biology; without that subject, it closed off some future science avenues and that is the problem – science disciplines especially are layered structures and understanding needs to be piled on brick by brick.

Click here to read further

Sinclair’s Blog: Digital NI 2020 Update
Sinclair Stockman, Lead for Digital NI 2020
The first steering group meeting for Digital NI 2020 was held in February. Establishing and maintaining representative participation from across all business sectors is a critical input to the success of this initiative.

An update on activity over the past two weeks follows. This has involved a series of meetings with different players and building a better understanding of the extent of the IP core platform which acts as the starting point for our exploitation drive.

Click here to read further

Locate your Company at Northern Ireland Science Park

For further information on work space at Northern Ireland Science Park, click here

Events and notifications from our affiliates

IntertraderIreland Investment Pitch Masterclass
Mon 22nd March, Ramada Hotel, Shaws Bridge
This is a fantastic opportunity to improve your investment pitch by receiving dedicated one to one mentoring from a panel of experts. This would normally cost a company €1000 but IntertradeIreland is able to offer this free of charge.

Click here for further details

Smart Grid Virtual Event:
Tues 30th March – Thurs 1st April
Part of the Sustainability Virtual Summit organized with the UN, Telco 2.0 ‘Smart Grids' looks at opportunities at the intersection of energy and ICT in a unique video-based online setting. Free to participate.

Click here for further details

Dragons Den Looking for Entrepreneurs!
Entrepreneurs from across the country once again have a chance to make their business dreams come true by appearing on Dragons’ Den. If you’re genuinely seeking investment for your business idea or invention, contact Richard Ferguson, halo manager for further information and details on Richard.ferguson@nisp.co.uk.

Google news:

2010-03-09T09:46:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the March 2010 AdSense Newsletter. We hope you enjoy the updates about the new AdSense interface and upcoming webinars!
Gasta.com news
Table of Contents:

• New features and fixes in the new AdSense interface
• New webinar schedule announced

New features and fixes in the new AdSense interface

Back in November, we announced a new AdSense interface designed to give you more insight into your performance, more control over the ads that appear on your sites, and more efficient account management. We've been busy working on the new interface and wanted to share some updates, including new features, things we're currently investigating, and fixes.

Over the last few months, we've heard from publishers that the new interface is more intuitive and easier to navigate than the old interface. In particular, we've heard that the new graphs and metrics, including the ability to compare performance over time, are especially useful. If you haven't spent much time in the new interface, we encourage you to try it out. If you're already using it, please keep sending us your feedback. The feedback we receive from you, our beta testers, directly influences what we work on. You can submit feedback to our team by clicking the 'Feedback' link in the top right corner of your screen while signed in to the new AdSense interface.

Thank you so much for beta testing the new AdSense interface. Keep the feedback coming, and stay tuned for future updates on our blog!

What we've added:
• Cents now included in estimated earnings on the Overview page in the new interface.
• Compare two date ranges in your reports to see how your revenue has changed over time.

What we're working on:
• Increasing speed and improving latency to give you greater efficiency in managing your account.
• Increasing row limit throughout the interface (viewing ad units, channels, reporting).
• Reducing (and eventually removing altogether!) the occurrence of generic error messages like the following:
"We apologize for the inconvenience, but we are unable to process your request at this time. Our engineers have been notified of this problem and will work to resolve it."

What we've fixed:
• Corrected an issue with the 'since last payment' calculation. The Estimated Earnings amount on your homepage now accurately shows 'since last payment' amount, calculated from the 1st of whichever month the last payment was made.
• Resolved the problem where some Internet Explorer users saw a security-warning message when using the new AdSense interface.

New webinar schedule announced

We've just announced a new webinar schedule for the next month. In our upcoming webinars, we'll highlight changes you can make to your ad implementation in order to maximize your AdSense revenue. We'll also answer your questions live during each webinar.

To sign up for our webinars, please visit the webinar schedule in our Help Center (https://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/answer.py?answer=22045). Even if you're not able to attend the live sessions, we'll make sure to upload each webinar recording within 24 hours of the event.

Thanks for reading,
The AdSense team

UK Hitwise on Gasta.com

2010-03-01T03:34:00.000-08:00

United Kingdom Newsletter - February, 2010

Gasta.eu and Gasta.com top Europe climbers in January 2010

Top websites in France
After the recent launch of the Hitwise France service, which provides clients with data on website, industry and category rankings, clickstream traffic activity, search behaviour and keyword research, the following is a first glance into French Internet usage.

Google.fr is the most visited website in France, accounting for 1 in every 10 Internet visits

During the week ending 30/01/10, Google France was the most visited website in France, picking up 10.38% of all French Internet visits - equivalent to 1 in every 10. Two other Google-owned properties also appeared in the list of the 10 most visited websites in France during the same week: YouTube at number 4 and Google.com at number 7.

Top 10 websites in France, ranked by market share of French Internet visits, week ending 30/01/10
1. Google France (10.38%)
2. Facebook (6.83%)
3. Windows Live Mail (3.20%)
4. YouTube (2.37%)
5. Orange France Webmail (1.96%)
6. Orange France (1.88%)
7. Google (1.73%)
8. Sykrock (1.43%)
9. Leboncoin.fr (1.26%)
10. MSN France (1.01%)

Facebook is the second most visited website in France, accounting for 6.83% of all French Internet visits during the week ending 30/01/10. The site accounted for just under half of all French visits to social networks over the same period, picking up over twice as many visits as second placed YouTube. Skyrock is the third most popular social network in France, and the eighth most popular website overall.

Windows Live Mail, (also known as Windows Live Hotmail) is the third most visited website in France and the most popular webmail service. Orange France Webmail is the next most popular webmail service and fifth most visited website overall, while Orange France ranks sixth. The list of the top 10 websites in France is completed by Leboncoin.fr, the most popular Shopping and Classifieds website, at number nine, and MSN France in tenth position.

Social networking is a more popular activity in France than in the UK, but online shopping less so

Search Engines are the most visited category of website in France, accounting for 14.27% of all French Internet visits during the week ending 30/01/10. Social networks and Forums rank second, picking up 12.85% of French Internet visits - more than the 10.61% the industry accounts for in the UK. Shopping and Classifieds websites, on the other hand, account for a higher percentage of Internet visits in the UK (8.74%) than in France (8.44%).

France and the UK have very similar sized Internet populations, so it is interesting to compare the different ways in which the web is used in the two countries. In France, more online time is spent on communication and entertainment than in the UK, with Entertainment websites and Webmail services also picking up a higher proportion of visits. On the other hand, people in the UK are more likely to use the Internet to make transactions and look for information. News and Media, Sports, Travel, and Education websites all account for a higher proportion of Internet visits in the UK than in France.
Fast Movers
Chatroulette - www.chatroulette.com
Position for the w/e 09/01/2010: #22,164
Position for the w/e 06/02/2010: #2,318
Positions Jumped: 19,846

For the week ending 13/02/10 Chatroulette, a new webcam site connecting users for live video chats at random, doubled its online traffic becoming the 1,189th most visited website in the UK and second most visited webcam site in the UK after www.Justin.tv.

Aside from the random nature of the meetings it arranges, the other interesting thing about Chartroulette is its visitor profile. Compared with other Webcam sites, it attracts a much wealthier and more 'sophisticated' audience than the webcam category in general. The most over-indexed Experian Mosaic groups visiting the website during the w/e 13/02/10 were: Alpha Territory (described as 'People with substantial wealth who live in the most sought after neighbourhoods'), Professional Rewards ('Experienced professionals in successful careers enjoying comfortable lifestyles in suburban or semi-rural homes') and Liberal Opinions ('Young, well educated city dwellers enjoying the vibrancy and diversity of urban life').

Whether the site is attracting these people because of its novelty value remains to be seen, but with average session times at a relatively respectable seven and a half minutes, many are staying out of more than just curiosity. As might be expected from a site that has become a viral success, a third of Chartroulette's traffic currently comes from social networks, with Facebook alone accounting for 23% of visits for the same period.

News In Brief
Apple Tablet the fourth most searched for laptop in the UK
Following the recent buzz and rumoured announcement of Apple's highly anticipated Tablet PC, the laptop became the fourth most searched for laptop model in the UK for the week ending 23/01/10. A look at the latest Hitwise Hot Consumer Electronics List shows that a portfolio of searches including terms such as 'apple tablet', 'apple islate', 'itablet', and 'ipad' accounted for 1.9% of all laptop related searches over the same period, up from 1.1% the week before (w/e 16/01/10). Only the Sony Viao, Samsung NC10 netbook and Apple's own Macbook (although not the Macbook Pro) received more searches.

Despite the increase in searches and all the hype, the Tablet was far from being Apple's most searched for product towards the end of January. In fact, it account for just 0.8% of Apple related searches - 35 times less than the iPhone.

Promotions
Every Penny Counts
Good data quality is essential in the charity sector, it helps you to communicate with your donors more effectively and boost donations.

Download a selection of Experian QAS resources on the charity sector.

Financial Services Quarterly Review
Exclusive to Hitwise clients, this quarterly report provides in-depth analysis of the trends that matter to the business and finance and insurance industries. The latest Review, based on trends from October - December 2009, includes a focus on potential for a recovery in the UK property market and the demographics of finance comparison websites.

For more information on how you can access to the full report, please email support.uk@hitwise.com.

Already a Hitwise client? Contact your Account Manager to start receiving this quarterly report automatically.

Media queries at Hitwise
If you are interested in using Hitwise content and statistics in publications and presentations, we encourage you to do so. Please source the content as "Hitwise United Kingdom - www.hitwise.com/uk".
Additionally, if you require assistance with statistics or content, please feel free to contact

Gasta Keyword targeting: Massive traffic increases in January 2010

2010-02-04T10:34:00.000-08:00

Keyword targeting completes the Gasta Network location-focused online and mobile device ad serving solution

Gasta Network, the premier location-focused ad network, today announced the addition of keyword targeting to the company’s ad targeting arsenal. Gasta Network’s proprietary Location Logic technology allows advertisers to target the delivery of their ads by including or excluding audiences based on where the audiences are living, along with the audiences’ expressed geographies of interest. With the ability to stack multiple location targeting criteria, coupling Location Logic with keyword targeting provides Gasta Network advertisers with the most advanced location-driven targeting available online or on mobile device today.

“The addition of keyword-targeting rounds out the Gasta Network offering – and is generating a great deal of excitement and inbound interest throughout the digital advertising community,” said Gasta Network CEO, Christopher Morris. “With the recent addition of new partners, including new resellers, advertisers and collaborators in development, Gasta Network is well positioned to take advantage of the recent explosion in demand for location-based advertising.”

“With Location Logic and keyword ad serving technology, Gasta Network is poised to not only serve ads on maps, but on any website or mobile application with a location-focused theme,” said Gasta Network Founder and CTO, Dr. David Baar. “We can now select ads using logic that ingests both the user’s physical location, and locations they express interest in, plus keywords, and perform combinatorial include/exclude logic on this set of location and context information to serve them an appropriate ad. We also can consider the ‘degree of locality’ of the user's interest in deciding whether to show a local business ad or a more brand-oriented one.”

Gasta Network ad-serving is available for all location oriented websites and mobile applications, including those for devices featuring iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Palm, Symbian and Windows Mobile operating systems. Mobile application developers and web content publishers can contact bizz@amiwired.com for more information on how to achieve additional revenues through location-targeted Gasta Network ads. Advertisers can contact bizz@amiwired.com to develop their next location-targeted ad campaign.

About Gasta Network

We Monetize Location. Gasta Network is a fast-growing location-focused advertising network made up of websites and mobile applications delivering Real Estate, Travel, Health & Fitness, News, Weather and Traffic information. Gasta Network provides local and brand advertisers with an interactive medium for delivering geo-targeted display ads to a large and actively engaged user community, based on Gasta Network’s Location Logic ad selection and delivery technology. For mobile and web developers, Gasta Network transforms online maps, websites and mobile applications from cost centers into revenue-generating properties. To learn more about Gasta Network, visit www.Gasta Network.com.

Gasta Search Network Bookmarking and Sharing Resource

2010-01-28T14:03:00.000-08:00

Gasta network sharing resource
A1‑Webmarks
Adifni
aero
AIM Share
Amazon
Amen Me!
AOL Mail
Arto
Ask
Baidu
Bebo
Bit.ly
bizSugar
Bleetbox
Blinklist
Blogger
Bloggy
Blogmarks
Bobrdobr
Bordom
Box.net
Brainify
Bryderi.se
BuddyMarks
Buzz
Camyoo
Care2
Cirip
CiteULike
ClassicalPlace
Clickazoo
Connotea
COSMiQ
Delicious
Designmoo
Digg
diglog
Digo
Diigo
Dipdive
doMelhor
Doower
Dosti
DotNetKicks
DotNetShoutout
Dzone
Edelight
eKudos
eLert Gadget
Embarkons
euCliquei
Evernote
Fabulously40
Facebook
Fark
Farkinda
FAVable
Faves
Favoritus
Flaker
Fnews
Folkd
Fresqui
FriendFeed
Friendster
FunP
Gabbr
Gacetilla
Gamesnetworks
GlobalGrind
GluvSnap
Gmail
Google
Google Reader
Gravee
Grumper
Haber.gen.tr
HackerNews
Hadash Hot
Hatena
Hedgehogs.net
HelloTxt
HEMiDEMi
Hipstr
Hitmarks
Hot Bookmark
Hotklix
Hotmail
Hyves
Identi.ca
iGoogle
Instapaper
InvestorLinks
Jamespot
Jumptags
Kaboodle
Kaevur
kIRTSY
Kledy
Kudos
Laaikit
Librerio
Link Ninja
Link-a-Gogo
LinkedIn
Live
Livefavoris
LiveJournal
Lunch.com
Lynki
Memori.ru
Menéame
Mindbodygreen
Mister Wong
Mixx
Multiply
myAOL
Mylinkvault
MySpace
N4G
NetLog
Netvibes
Netvouz
NewsTrust
Newsvine
Nujij
OKNOtizie
Oneview
Orkut
Osmosus
Oyyla
PDF Online
PhoneFavs
PimpThisBlog
Ping.fm
Planypus
Plaxo
Plurk
Polladium
Posterous
PrintFriendly
Propeller
Pusha
Reddit
Segnalo
Sekoman
SheToldMe
Simpy
Slashdot
SmakNews
SodaHead
Sonico
Sphinn
Spruzer
Squidoo
Startaid
Strands
studiVZ
StumbleUpon
Stumpedia
Stylehive
Surfpeople
Svejo
Symbaloo
Tagza
Technorati
TellMyPolitician
ThisNext
Tip'd
Transferr
Translate
Tulinq
Tumblr
Tusul
Twitter
TypePad
Viadeo
Virb
Webnews
WireFan
WordPress
Worio
Wovre
Wykop
Xanga
Y! Mail
Y! Bookmarks
Yammer
Yardbarker
Yazzem
Yigg
Yoolink
Yorumcuyum
Youbookmarks
YouMob

Gasta Keywords : a collaboration in marketing

2010-01-27T05:03:00.000-08:00

Work with Gasta.com for Long Tail Success

Independent Analyst Study Determines That Collaboration Improves Business Results
Collaboration technologies are changing how, when and where we work. To gain a competitive advantage, leading organizations are developing a collaboration strategy that will enable innovation and improve productivity.

Although collaboration is positioned to be the next great promoter of enterprise efficiency, the business benefits are limited unless an organization builds a unified program to support the use of new tools and to facilitate organizational change.

Study Highlights New Collaboration Methods
A recently completed study commissioned by Cisco from Forrester Consulting reveals how companies are currently investing in collaboration technology and what they plan for the future. Among the findings:

Business goals are driving adoption of collaboration technologies
New collaboration tools are adding value across business functions
Emerging collaboration tools present transformative benefits
An architectural approach to deployment of collaboration technology brings a competitive advantage
Tangible Benefits of Architecture for Collaboration
The Forrester study highlights the business benefits of building the right collaboration architecture:

Makes distributed teams more productive
Reduces travel and meeting expenses
Enables an increasingly mobile workforce
Expands adoption of collaboration tools

Europasearch Update: Guardian’s Rusbridger Urges Against Industry-Wide Paywalls

2010-01-26T04:36:00.000-08:00

Europasearch.com Tech Debate

Guardian’s Rusbridger Urges Against Industry-Wide Paywalls

It’s not the Berlin Wall and Rupert Murdoch heads News Corp (NYSE: NWS). not the USSR, but Alan Rusbridger’s speech on the future of journalism Monday evokes Ronald Reagan’s exhortation “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” The Guardian editor-in-chief used the 2010 Hugh Cudlipp Lecture to deliver a counterpoint to Murdoch’s plans to put News Corp.‘s online news properties behind some kind of paywall—and his repeat urgings that the rest of the news industry follow suit. Rusbridger reminded listeners that the Murdoch who now embraces paywalls is the same “brave, radical proprietor” who favored “reach before revenue” when he “ruthlessly” undersold his papers or has backed free models.

Rusbridger has made no secret of his belief that open access equals reach equals influence—as he illustrated during the talk, Guardian has gone from selling only 650 copies outside the UK in 1956 to one of the top English-speaking news sites globally— so he isn’t breaking major ground. And he isn’t completely arguing against paywalls as much as the notion that they can work across the industry. (Conversely, some argue that online news paywalls can only work if everyone does it.) But, using Arthur Sulzberger, Jr.‘s admission that charging for frequent access to NYTimes.com is a “bet,” Rusbridger suggests both men are playing a “hunch.”

He adds: “To put it another way, it may be right for the Times of London and New York, but not for everyone. It may be right at some point for everybody in the future, but not yet. There is probably general agreement that we may all want to charge for specialist, highly-targeted, hard-to-replicate content. It’s the ‘universal’ bit that is uncertain.” Rusbridger draws a different line for mobile. The Guardian already has one of the top paid iPhone news apps, selling 70,000 subscriptions at £2.39 the first month. “It’s one clue to the future, not an epiphany.”

Rusbridger’s multi-layered message is best read intact and I urge anyone who is interested in the subject to do just that. (You can also watch a video interview with Rusbridger. Oddly for all the talk of an open web, embedding isn’t allowed.) Some excerpts:

—“If you erect a universal pay wall around your content then it follows you are turning away from a world of openly shared content. Again, there may be sound business reasons for doing this, but editorially it is about the most fundamental statement anyone could make about how newspapers see themselves in relation to the newly-shaped world.”

—“There is an irreversible trend in society today which rather wonderfully continues what we as an industry started – here, in newspapers, in the UK. It’s not a “digital trend” – that’s just shorthand. It’s a trend about how people are expressing themselves, about how societies will choose to organise themselves, about a new democracy of ideas and information, about changing notions of authority, about the releasing of individual creativity, about an ability to hear previously unheard voices; about respecting, including and harnessing the views of others. About resisting the people who want to close down free speech.

As Scott said 90 years ago: “What a chance for the newspaper!” If we turn our back on all this and at the same time conclude that there is nothing to learn from it because what ‘they’ do is different – ‘we are journalists, they aren’t: we do journalism; they don’t’ – then, never mind business models, we will be sleep walking into oblivion.”

Staci D. Kramer
twitter @sdkstl
Disclosure: Our publisher ContentNext is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian News & Media.

Gasta Tech News: Chris Crum webpronews article on RDFa

2010-01-24T09:01:00.000-08:00

Gasta Tech Update: A Markup That Could Have Big Implications for SEO
RDFa Could Play an Increasingly Big Role in Search

RDFa, which stands for Resource Description Framework in attributes, is a W3C recommendation, which adds a set of attribute level extensions to XHTML for embedding rich metadata within web documents. While not everyone believes that W3C standards are incredibly necessary to operate a successful site, some see a great deal of potential for search engine optimization in RDFa.

In fact, this is the topic of a current WebProWorld thread, which was started by Dave Lauretti of MoreStar, who asks, "Are you working the RDFa Framework into your SEO campaigns?" He writes, "Now under certain conditions and with certain search strings on both Google and Yahoo we can find instances where the RDFa framework integrated within a website can enhance their listing in the search results."

Lauretti refers to an article from last summer at A List Apart, by Mark Birbeck who said that Google was beginning to process RDFa and Microformats as it indexes sites, using the parsed data to enhance the display of search results with "rich snippets". This results in the Google results you see like this:
RDFa in play

"It's a simple change to the display of search results, yet our experiments have shown that users find the new data valuable -- if they see useful and relevant information from the page, they are more likely to click through," Google said upon the launch of rich snippets.

Google says it is experimenting with markup for business and location data, but that it doesn't currently display this information, unless the business or organization is part of a review (hence the results in the above example). But when review information is marked up in the body of a web page, Google can identify it and may make it available in search results. When review information is shown in search results, this can of course entice users to click through to the page (one of the many reasons to treat customers right and monitor your reputation).

Currently Google uses RDFa for reviews, but this search also displays the date of the review, the star rating, the author and the price range of an iPod, as Lauretti points out.

Best Buy's lead web development engineer reported that by adding RDFa the company saw improved ranking for respective pages. They saw a 30% increase in traffic, and Yahoo evidently observed a 15% increase in click-through rates.(via Steven Pemberton)

Implications for SEO

I'm not going to get into the technical side of RDFa here (see resources listed later in the article), but I would like to get into some of the implications that Google's use of RDFa could have on SEO practices. For one, rich snippets can show specific information related to products that are searched for. For example, a result for a movie search could bring up information like:

- Run time
- Release Date
- Rating
- Theaters that are showing it

"The implementation of RDFa not only gives more information about products or services but also increases the visibility of these in the latest generations of search engines, recommender systems and other applications," Lauretti tells WebProNews. "If accuracy is an issue when it comes to search and search results then pages with RDFa will get better rankings as there would be little to question regarding the page theme." (Source) He provides the following chart containing examples of the types of data that could potentially be displayed with RDFa:
RDFa Implications

"It is obvious that search marketers and SEOs will be utilizing this ability for themselves and their clients," says Lauretti. Take contact information specifically. "Using RDFa in your contact information clarifies to the search engine that the text within your contact block of code is indeed contact information." He says in this same light, "people information" can be displayed in the search results (usually social networking info). You could potentially show manufacturer information or author information.

RDFa actually has implications beyond just Google's regular web search. With respect to Google's Image search, the owner of images can also use RDFa to provide license information about the images they own. Google currently allows image searchers to have images displayed based on license type, and using RDFa with your images lets the search bots know under which licenses you are making your images available (Via Mark Birbeck). There is also RDFa support for video.

Following are some resources where you can learn more about RDFa and how to implement it:

Google Introduces Rich Snippets
Introduction to RDFa
RDFa Primer
About RDFa (Google Webmaster Central)
RDFa to Provide Image License Info
RDFa Microformat Tagging For Your Website
For Businesses and Organizations
About Review Data (Google Webmaster Central)

Google's Matt Cutts has said in the past that Google has been kind of "white listing" sites to get rich snippets, as Google feels they are appropriate, but as they grow more confident that such snippets don't hurt the user experience, then Google will likely roll the ability out more and more broadly. This is one thing to keep an eye on as the year progresses, and is why those in the WebProWorld thread believe RDFa will become a bigger topic of discussion in 2010.

WebProNews would like to thank Dave Lauretti, who contributed some findings to this piece.

Gasta Property: Property Mentor

2010-01-23T21:38:00.000-08:00

We are nearly into February already, but 2010 is proving to be an incredible year for property investment.

I just wanted to send you a quick email today to prove to you why low property prices isn’t the only reason you should book onto one of our free 2 hour taster sessions.

I was reading an article in The Guardian the other day which revealed that in the last 50 years:

1. We have had 4 PROPERTY BOOMS. 1971-73, 1977-80, 1985-89 AND 1998-2007.
And you know what they say? History just loves to repeat itself… Luckily, if you book and attend one of our free 2 hour tasters TODAY, you too can utilise our 8 PROVEN investment strategies which are capable of working in all economic climates.

2. UK population has grown from 9m to 61.6m.
That is roughly 1m extra people every year that YOU can offer a home to. Book your place now

3. Single person households have increased from 20% of the market place to 33%.
As a nation we are living longer, and unfortunately divorce rates have risen alongside it. Our FREE course has been tailored to take advantage of the growing market of singletons so you can quickly and efficiently offer them a clean break from their former lives – while still benefiting from £1,000 monthly profits.

4. Home ownership has fallen from 70% to 68% of the market.
It’s not that surprising that home ownership still dominants the market place, but here is the thing… constrained by low levels of lending, huge deposits and limited finance, more and more people are looking to escape the restrictions of mortgages and are renting instead. We will show you how to take advantage of the changing marketplace…

5. UK property prices have risen from £2,507 to £162,085.
That is an impressive 6,400% increase, despite 3 recessions! And you don’t have to miss out… Act now and you can still get your slice of last years 9.4% property price increases before we boom again

If these statistics are anything to go by the next big property boom is just around the corner…

So revisit us NOW at www.PropertyMentor.co.uk and make sure you dont miss out on: 6,400% property price increases, property booms and the demands of an expanding rental niche.

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# phoenixpark.org
# portstewart.net
# propertiesbelfast.com
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# propertycheshire.com
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# propertycrewe.com
# propertydarlington.com
# propertyderry.com
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# propertydocklands.com
# propertydoncaster.com
# propertydonegal.com
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# propertydublin.com
# propertyedinburgh.com
# propertyengland.com
# propertygibraltar.net
# propertygloucester.com
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# propertyhalifax.com
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# propertyyork.net

About Gasta search network

2010-01-18T06:08:00.000-08:00

About Gasta

Started in Belfast in 1998 Gasta is a global search engine and web directory. Gasta has now launched SearchMatch paid inclusion programs for all of its engines and sees paid listings as the future of Internet marketing enabling and empowering advertisers to bid on niche Keywords and phrases that are directly related to their business.

Geo Targeting

Gasta Europe automatically includes effective Geo Targeting of advertising across regions so the user searching in Dublin receives adverts from Dublin and UK Regions and the user searching in New York receives inventory from USA regions.

More than 97% of gasta.com users live and/or work in the regional search areas the index is aimed at. This offers an extremely focused way of targeting prospective customers. Localize to globalize. With Gasta.com you the advertiser only pay for the traffic you receive. Gasta.com has a unique featured Site scheme allows you to directly gear expenditure to traffic. This is the most cost effective method with no wasted clicks.

Diverse User Base

Gasta.com search results are rendered by a network of Search Partners ranging from major Internet brands to organizations who specifically address the Region.

Gasta.com has a more focussed appeal because it is targeted directly to a local audience

Ad Management

24/7 Ad Campaign Management access your account and manage your listings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the gasta.com Management and bid System

Opportunities exist for partnerships with Gasta.com as trends suggest that in the near future all search engines will be regionalised. If you have a business idea or would like to partner with the gasta search network in any global region, contact gasta.com.

Gasta.com search network

2010-01-18T06:06:00.000-08:00

UK-Based Gasta Search Engine Network Enters Into Sales / Merger Talks

The Gasta search network is a blended search that will deliver web results, news, videos, and images with one single keyword search, then lets users social bookmark search results in their own library. The Gasta search network extends its reach into Europe and USA, has search engines launched in South Africa, China, and Japan. Gasta is a European trademark and the Gasta search engine was last year's winner of the PWC award for innovation, it also holds one of the UK most valuable property domain holdings.

Belfast, Ireland (PRWEB) October 14, 2008 -- It was announced here today that the Belfast-based web 2.0 Search Engine Network Gasta is in talks with several companies for a possible sale or merger. A well established player in European, US, and Asian search, The Gasta.com search engine network currently consists of 450+ Domains, is translated into six languages, offers a contextualised ad system, powerful SEO options, keyword management tools, and full service administration to create, launch, and quickly deploy new search engines in emerging markets and geographical regions as needed.

Gasta has created a very easy to use back-end admin system that is designed for non technical use, within the admin you can add new keywords, manage ad campaigns, replicate advertising codes, and launch new search index's and directories in minutes, Gasta has developed its own text based contextualised ad system, InstantAds™ and the keyword direct hit service SearchMatch™ allowing users to buy targeted keywords for the geographic region they do business in. As well as this there are many seo options including InstantLinks™ the free link exchange system that publishes the main directory." We can launch new search engines in emerging regions very easily, with the rapid deployment platform we have developed" said Higgins. "We can launch in Poland and Malaysia very quickly and have been looking out for possible local partners on the ground in these regions".

While Gasta.com is well-established in the Search Industry, it has chosen to maintain a low profile and provided state of the art services to its visitors and advertisers. Christian Nielsen, owner of Nielsentech.com, an Internet consulting firm located in the US said he has used Gasta for many years. "Yes, I was submitting client sites to Gasta's system back as early as 1999 when we started doing SEO and web promotion. They have evolved over the years, and we have keep in contact due to their attitude of service and ethics. Most other firms in the US don't seem to know about them and that's been a competitive edge for us."

Gasta.com owner Francis Higgins believes that now is a 'good time' to transition the search engines network due to the convergence of web 2.0 technologies. Higgins said "We believe that we have created great distribution platform to easily explore and rapidly develop new and emerging regions. We have looked into the possibility of partnering with a mobile carrier to deliver local mobile search in which great opportunities are coming in the future, Gasta works well now on mobiles but we would need the expertise of the big carriers to make an impact and monetise the service.

We have worked hard over the past 12 years to improve the reach and the depth of the Gasta network. With the rapid deployment and white label solution we have developed we can quickly launch blended search engines that will bring up web results, videos, news, and images with one keyword. Our brand commands a high level of respect by those that are familiar with us and those that do some research will see our extensive digital footprint built up over the years that shows our quality and consistency and has established our brand's value in the search marketing industry."

Contacts
Francis Higgins
Comm Director Gasta Search Networks
bizz @ amiwired.com

Gasta Tech News: Monthly Breakdown Search engine Figures

2009-10-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

New York, N.Y., Oct. 19, 2009 - Experian® Hitwise® announced today that Google search properties accounted for 80.46 percent of all Canadian searches conducted in the 12 weeks ending Oct. 3, 2009. Yahoo! search properties, Bing search properties and Ask search properties received 7.99 percent, 7.65 percent and 3.09 percent, respectively.

The remaining 46 search engines in the Experian Hitwise Search Engine Analysis Tool accounted for 1 percent of Canadian searches.

Percentage of Canadian searches among leading search engine providers

Domain August 2009 September 2009 Month-over-month percent change
Google search properties 79.96% 80.46% 1%
Yahoo! search properties 8.38% 7.99% -5%
Bing search properties* 8.10% 7.65% -6%
Ask search properties 2.78% 3.09% 11%
Note: Data is based on 12-week rolling periods (ending Oct. 3, 2009, and Aug. 29, 2009) from the Experian Hitwise sample of 100,000 Canadian Internet users. The percentages for the search properties include the .ca and .com domains.
*Includes executed searches on Bing, Live.com and MSN search but does not include searches on Club.Live.com
Source: Experian Hitwise
Longer searches increase this past month
Searches averaging five to more than eight words in length increased 1 percent between August and September 2009. Searches of eight or more words increased 3 percent. The same time period showed that shorter search queries - those averaging one to four words long - were flat from month to month. Searches of two words comprised the majority of searches, amounting to 25.73 percent of all queries.

Monthly U.S. keyword breakdown by percentage of clicks
Subject August 2009 September 2009 Month-over-month percent change
One word 25.53% 25.29% -1%
Two words 25.86% 25.73% -1%
Three words 20.68% 20.64% 0%
Four words 12.47% 12.64% 1%
Five words 7.00% 7.09% 1%
Six words 3.76% 3.78% 1%
Seven words 2.04% 2.08% 2%
More than eight words 2.66% 2.74% 3%

Note: Data is based on all searches conducted on all search engines on a 12-week rolling period (ending Oct. 3, 2009, and Aug. 29, 2009) from the Experian Hitwise sample of 100,000 Canadian Internet users.
Source: Experian Hitwise
Search Engines top-visited category
Experian Hitwise separates Web sites into more than 165 industry categories, and the Search Engines category came out on top, capturing 28.18 percent of all Canadian Internet visits in September 2009. The Business and Finance and Entertainment categories received the next-highest number of visits, with 15.02 percent and 14.82 percent, respectively. The categories that received the largest gain from month to month were the Sports-Fantasy category, increasing 157 percent; the Community - Humanitarian category, with a 150 percent increase; and the Computers and Internet - Internet Advertising category, increasing 114 percent.

Top 10 most popular Canadian Internet categories
Category August 2009 September 2009 Month-over-month percent change
Search Engines 28.18% 25.84% -8%
Business and Finance 15.02% 14.60% -3%
Entertainment 14.82% 13.44% -9%
Portal Frontpages 7.05% 11.50% 63%
Social Networking and Forums 10.84% 9.41% -13%
Multimedia 10.09% 9.07% -10%
Banks and Financial Institutions 8.48% 8.12% -4%
Shopping and Classifieds 7.04% 6.63% -6%
News and Media 7.27% 6.62% -9%
Email Services 4.57% 4.09% -10%

Note: Parent categories were used except for Computers and Internet, where we used the subcategories Search Engines, Social Networking and Forums, and Email Services. Data is based on 12-week rolling periods (ending Oct. 3, 2009, and Aug. 29, 2009) from the Experian Hitwise sample of 100,000 Canadian Internet users.
Source: Experian Hitwise
About Experian Hitwise
Experian Hitwise is the leading online competitive intelligence service. Experian Hitwise gives marketers a competitive advantage by providing daily insights on how 25 million Internet users around the world interact with more than 1 million Web sites. This external view helps companies grow and protect their businesses by identifying threats and opportunities as they develop. Experian Hitwise has more than 1,500 clients across numerous sectors, including financial services, media, travel and retail.
Experian Hitwise (FTS:EXPN), www.experianplc.com, operates in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada and Brazil. More information about Experian Hitwise is available at www.hitwise.com/ca.
For up-to-date analysis of online trends, please visit the Hitwise Research Blog and Hitwise Data Center.
About Experian
Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 65 countries. The company helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2009, was $3.9 billion. Experian employs approximately 15,000 people in 40 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; Costa Mesa, California; and São Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

Gasta Tech News : MEDIA PLANNING & BUYING Part 1

2009-08-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

MEDIA PLANNING & BUYING
5 reasons you no longer need an ad agency

The current agency model is broken. I know it, agencies know it, but luckily for all of us, clients haven't realized it yet. Gasta SearchMastch could be the savour as its grounded in Tradition and Classic agency approch that will never burn out, it does'nt try to do to much at one time and SearchMatch allows the best flexibility to campaigns I know of.

After more than a decade of working for an agency (six years on the client side), I have come to several conclusions, none of which are pretty pictures for agencies unless they change. You see, agencies need clients more than clients need agencies, and there has been a fundamental shift in how technology has both enabled and altered that dynamic. It has exacerbated the problem with the explosion of new media channels, and it has also provided the solutions.
We have built an interweaving production process that is designed to produce media the old way, not the new way, and agencies and clients seem to be stuck in this model.
Agencies over the last 20 years have morphed into advanced communication production shops. The offline agencies have desperately been pursuing online projects with their clients, and the online agencies have been trying to do more offline work. What they both have not done, however, is change the process of production. They have been too busy chasing the money.
But agencies used to be so much more than that. They were the creative powerhouses. The ideation shops. The meme creators for their brands across society. Some still are, but is meme creation needed anymore?
The explosion of communication methods to reach the consumer has had a natural dilution effect. As the playing field got wider, it gave something to consumers they didn't have before: instantaneous access to desire fulfillment and an ability to access information about a product, not just from the company and the agency's perceived lens, but through other consumers and competitors. There have been three profound effects on the technological expansion of media: a wider communication platform for all, the persistence of data on that platform, and a plethora of spawned agency models.
So how is this all related to no longer needing an ad agency? SEM, SEO, interactive, offline, online, media, social media -- the breadth of these elements has made clients' heads spin, and the rapid pace has left many core agencies scrambling.
No longer does the client feel that one shop can handle all their needs, because in reality, no single shop can. But there is something being lost by all of the expansion: message and brand cohesion. Since your "main" agency is no longer the idea shop, and since that message has inherent problems cascading throughout so many communication channels, why have one?
I am about to commit sacrilege.
Reason 1: "The Big Idea"
What we no longer need is "The Big Idea," or at least not in the way most agencies still view it. Agencies used to exist because of that concept, but many lost their way. The communication cascade has been so profoundly altered that it is no longer The Big Idea but many smaller ones. The argument goes that everything should sit under the umbrella of The Big Idea, but I challenge that assumption. The Big Idea was necessary to help seed an overall brand image in consumers' minds and have it be harmonious and able to fit all of the little communication channels under it. That's really its essence.

The problem is that when integration is attempted by most clients -- truly attempted -- it dilutes the message in the communication medium that is being used because the mindset of the consumer is often overlooked.
Traditional media (TV, radio, print, outdoor) had a much narrower human "need-state" of consumption, so messages could cascade among them while keeping the message coherent, simple, and emotionally impactful. The important thing is the bounce-back from consumers. It is their opinion of you. And their opinion dwarfs yours.
The last 10 years started to completely throw off the machinery of communication messaging. And with the explosion of social media, it became bilateral. No longer is it a tree diagram and a linear cascade downward to consumers. The internet, texting, mobile devices, etc., have all created a persistent communication feedback loop that is impossible to control. You can no longer effectively hide who you are as a company, because your Big Idea must essentially fall out of something bigger: your corporate mission, your reason for being in business.

Yes, yes, all corporations are in business to make money, but underlying that fact is how the company actually functions. The age of corporate transparency has arrived.
My argument is that The Big Idea, the overarching communication "message," should arise from the company itself because it is ultimately dictated back to you by your consumers. Unfortunately, too many companies are so mired in their own internal politics that they feel the need for the outside perspective of an agency. But agencies are often painfully unaware of the details of their clients' businesses. If you are an agency, try to be more influential internally, and don't limit yourself to engaging just with the marketing department. If you develop relationships at a higher level, the coordination between your proposed messaging and what will work for the company will be more harmonious.

Too many clients and agencies change direction so quickly that The Big Idea is never given time to cement itself, and they aren't listening to the bounce-back messaging. They still believe they can control and dictate. How often do company taglines change now? Is that the agencies' fault? No, but if The Big Idea is based on who you are as a brand, then it does not have to change with the wind. For The Big Idea to work, it must be BIG, but you don't need an agency for it. As a brand, you first need to look internally. Understand who you are as a company, and listen to the messaging coming back at you. Don't blame your agency; blame yourself for not listening.

Gasta Tech News : MEDIA PLANNING & BUYING Part 2

2009-08-20T08:48:00.000-07:00

Reason 2: Why build an Edsel?

Most external corporate web presences are over-designed monstrosities. I would argue that almost all businesses could easily survive with a more simplified, streamlined version that could be accomplished with most good blog software. Unless your business IS in business to sell products on the internet, and the website IS your brand, your website is overkill. This is where the consumer need-state comes into play. Your website is a conduit to the consumer's desire, but not the desire itself. Why are you paying an agency so much money to handle it?

Most corporate websites are painful reflections of their internal structure. They spend millions on revamping and solving problems, but in reality, they do not address the core issue. The agency model preys on this behavior. It is as if you built a shack that has had room after room bolted onto it -- kitchens, dining facilities, bathrooms, showers, etc. It may appear to be somewhat cohesive on the front end, but at what cost? This is not an agency problem but the client's unwillingness to make substantive decisions for their external web presence.
When you decide to redesign that shack, all of the extra detritus comes along for the ride.

You may discard items here and there, but feature-creep somehow always results in another monstrosity being built, and you end up building an Edsel.
I recently advised a client who had switched from a traditional website to a standard blog template system using WordPress. The company designed the template adhering to its color palette and design philosophy, and for $100,000, the company ended up accomplishing what its agency had estimated would cost $500,000 to build. The end-product did more than what the agency was pitching, and it shaved an additional $200,000 a year off maintenance costs for the company. It also allowed internal staff to update the blog easily and communicate simply.

Another advantage of a switchover like this is that the search engines pick up all that new content much more easily than an overly designed Flash site. Remember, the majority of consumers now use search engines to navigate the web. So when you build a monstrosity of a site, the issue isn't just the cost of the build itself, it's the cost of maintenance, and the agency you need to employ because it wasn't designed for search engines to scan.

Design a system that is templated specifically for your needs, and the control goes back to your company. Isn't that where these decisions should rest anyway?
Reason 3: Scalability, production, and distributed messaging platforms
You used to be able to produce one TV ad and run in one market. If it resonated and helped move product, all you needed to do was scale the effort. The ad was already produced. You just had to spend more money. Same with print, outdoor, and many other traditional media. But with online, the playing field is so disparate that much of it is not as scalable.

You can produce a banner, but for some reason you always need to change it and produce more. Not to mention, you have to do it in four different sizes. Before too long, you have too many little snippets running in too many different places, and you find yourself myopically looking over analytics reports tweaking a tenth of 1 percent here and there. For what? The model is not scalable the way offline is. Sure, you can throw more media at it, but anyone in online media planning knows that with each new site, and each new format, you increase the complexity.
What most brands don't have is the willingness to run a single ad, test and control that one ad, and beat the hell out of it. Now that's efficient! The customization of messaging on the internet for each subgroup has created a cacophony of noise. So why not simplify? It's only a matter of will, and you can probably ditch the huge amount of production, media trafficking, and complexity you are creating for yourself in trying to find the one thing that works with your agency.Gasta SearchMatch allows this Niche

There will never be one banner ad that fundamentally changes your business and impacts the consumer in the way one TV ad could. It's the same with SEM. I watch company after company let their ad agency do their SEM ad copy. Are you serious? There is not going to be anything brilliant that an agency can do with 85 characters that you can't. Let an SEM vendor do it. Again, you're spending money on the wrong thing. If you're going to use an ad agency, use them for ideation, not wasting billable hours.

Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, WordPress, blogs, email systems, and a host of other tools are available for you to extend your brand, so use them. Why build internally what other companies have spent millions building, tweaking, and supporting? And why have your agency build them? Look at Facebook the same way you view outsourcing any other aspect of your business. Facebook hosts it and deals with the IT and serving costs. You should be making the decisions, listening to those channels, and managing them.

Reason 4: Stop focus groups

This is where I enrage every company in this business. Sorry. In the end, it's about what your consumers are saying about your product, although that conversation used to be isolated from both the client and the agency. Agencies used to have to conduct focus groups to gauge consumer opinion. There is no need for a focus group, ever. They are the harbingers of clients intending to cover their ass, and agencies that profit from it. Truth be told, many agencies hate focus groups, and please don't ever use them for validating creative.

Agencies use them so when the idea fails miserably, they can point to the focus group and know that they had senior-leader approval. Business now moves way too quickly for that. Make the decision and go with it. Why are you spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to get opinions from small groups of people who will tell you something that doesn't even affect their behavior? Trust me, they don't work. Instead, get Radian6, Biz360, Nielsen BuzzMetrics, or eCairn Conversation to help you learn what your consumers are actually saying. I advocate strongly for having this knowledge generate from inside your company and not from an agency. If it is inside, it will not be limited to the marketing group.

This is the conversation that the CEO needs to hear, as welll as the product development people, etc. It should become core to your business because only by truly listening to your consumers will you make better products. And listening in on the conversation when they aren't aware is the only way to get at the real information. Do you really think consumers in focus groups don't know you're behind the mirror? Wake up.

Gasta Tech News : MEDIA PLANNING & BUYING Part 3

2009-08-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

Reason 5: You should hire the right people

It's time to make big decisions about your company's future. Companies have started to see the power new technologies can create for a brand, but do they have a CEO enlightened enough to take the necessary risks? Build up talent inside your company. Don't promote people internally from different divisions. I am often dismayed when I hear companies say, "He was a great performer in our internal marcom department for 12 years and would make a great choice for heading up our new global communications team." If you want game-changing talent, look externally. Sorry, but the people you tend to have left in your company are those who were either not talented enough to get recruited externally, or they are just great internal politicians with an M.B.A. from a good school. That is not to say you don't have great talent already in place, but it is more often that they are being shackled by someone in the upper management structure who won't take the necessary risks for your company to thrive in this new age. It's time to remove the shackles. The group must have C-level representation to succeed.
If you are not willing to do that, then by all means, keep all of your agencies just humming along. They will be very happy to keep taking your money.
I would appreciate hearing your feedback in the comments section below.
Sean X Cummings is principal of SXC Marketing.

Gasta Keywords

2009-08-19T06:37:00.000-07:00

All of the following keywords are available on the front page of http://www.gasta.com,
For €30 per 3 month slot.

Gasta Shopping Travel Holiday Villas YouBloom online Dating Online Recruitment Uk Property Sportswear Family Holidays Car Insurance Travel Insurance Online Cheap HIP Games HIP Ringtones Online Pharmacy SmartliveCasino Spread Betting Diet Supplements Web Hosting Travel Agents Laptops Home Security Online Advertising Broadband Medical insurance Mortgage finders Business Plans Sports Betting Credit Cards Student Loans Mortgage Deals Discount Hotels payday loans Finders Investment Advice Unsecured Loans Live Betting Casino Bonus Bingo Games Blackjack Poker uk Casinos Mobile Games Designer Gifts Online Bookmakers Online Bingo Loan Specialists Online Training Commercial Insurance Twitter Facebook LinkedIn www.gastabingo.co.uk

Full List of Gasta.com Property Domains search sites UK

2009-08-11T08:04:00.000-07:00

# propertybelgravia.com
# propertyblackburn.com
# propertyblackburn.com
# propertybolton.com
# propertybrighton.com
# propertybristol.com
# propertybrittany.com
# propertyburnley.com
# propertycambridge.com
# propertychelsea.com
# propertycheltenham.com
# propertycotswolds.com
# propertydoncaster.com
# propertyedinburgh.com
# propertygloucester.com
# propertyguernsey.com
# propertykent.com
# propertyknightsbridge.com
# propertyliverpool.com
# propertylondon.net
# propertyluton.com
# propertymanchester.com
# propertymayfair.com
# propertymiddlesbrough.com
# propertynewcastle.net
# propertynormandy.com
# propertynorwich.com
# propertyoldham.com
# propertyoxford.net
# propertypeterborough.com
# propertyrotherham.com
# propertysouthwest.com
# propertysquaremile.com
# propertysunderland.com
# propertysurrey.com
# propertytorquay.com
# propertywatford.com
# propertywigan.com
# propertywindsor.com
# propertywirral.com

Europasearch the future of contextual search

2009-08-10T06:58:00.001-07:00

Europasearch.com offers the best value for money contextual advertising platform on the web. The platform is called SearchMatch, and what is unique about Europa SearchMatch is that it allows your advert to show in the number one position for your Keywords,with no competitors. The Keywords are yours as you have purchased them already for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or 1 year. No one can competitively click on your keywords to waste your money or raise the price of PPC, because there is no PPC. Get it? You buy your niche or direct marketing keywords for a 1,2,3, month or 1 year period.

The SearchMatch platform also allows you to buy your keywords only across the regions you are intersted in as your target market, North America, UK /Ireland, Central Europe,China, Japan, Australasia. The Keywords you buy may only be relevant to you or your brand, like 'Gucci Bags' or may be generic like 'Car Insurance'. Your keywords might be seaonal like 'Christmas hampers'in which case you may only need them for 3 months of the year for a specific region. The SearchMatch platform is the worlds first truely anti click fraud service that enables and empowers the advertiser to run the top competitive keywords to suit their budget. Not only that the Unique Five Star number one position will start to develop organic traffic as it picked up by Google and the other major search networks as a backlink on The Europasearh network.

Europasearch is a blended search engine that will bring up results for videos, news, images, and web results with one mouse click, your ad will appear across all the blended search services, so if someone searches for a how to video on 'Christmas hampers'your advert will come up first on the video search as well as the web results index. this is a great service and great tools are available on the search results page for sharing results with LinkedIn, Twitter, FaceBook, and Digg.

Europasearch currently has 165 web search engines launched across global regions and is now offering a white label search solution for countries, cities, industry, or towns. to find out more about the white label hosted search solution contact bizz@amiwired.com.

Gasta and the future of contextual search

2009-08-10T06:15:00.000-07:00

Gasta and the future of search
I can’t find my phone. What are my options for locating it?

1. Look for it
2. Ask others if they’ve seen it
3. Phone it

I would probably apply those strategies in that order as each fails. Of course, what I really want is for my phone to magically appear in my hand whenever I need it. That would be nice.
Search on the internet today is somewhere between a technology-driven stage 1 (Google, and minor variations like Wolfram Alpha and Bing) and a people-driven stage 2 (Digg, StumbleUpon, Twitter, Amazon recommendations). One might stretch the metaphor to argue that RSS, Google Alerts and the like are forms of stage 3; I’m not sure I would agree.
Technology markets typically display the following characteristics.
- Incumbents are displaced by products that are an order of magnitude better, not just 20% better.
- Product evolution is about adding value by getting closer to the user
The Internet has evolved. It has become more personal, less about static home pages and more about communication and collaboration (behaviour rather than data). This is what we would expect: The Internet is moving closer to us.
But what most people think of search has not changed significantly:
For the first 10 years, the web was primarily just a bunch of pages, and Google was an excellent tool for searching primary data.
Then we started doing mashups and social networks; these are essentially derived and dynamic forms of data and it’s not that we search differently, per se, but that we simply don’t think about search in these arenas in quite the same way. How many links away from me are you in a social network? Who is listening to the same music as me on Last.fm? What relevant experience do we have within our business? What houses are for sale on my street?
Inevitably, search will move closer to these problems, because these problems are closer to us.
Context is King
The end game for search is recognizing a context where an answer should be presented rather than sought. There are a few candidates in this field.

The semantic web garners a lot of attention (or at least it did once!). It attempts to wrap content in more meaning by enriching it with relevant keywords (I know this is a simplification, but really, who cares?). It is a rather an old fashioned view of the web because it solves an old fashioned problem — find relevant pages. It’s not that there is no room for innovation in this arena it’s jut that Google does this so well, you’re only ever go to be picking at their leftovers. Start-ups entering the search arena should be focussed on a different set of use cases.

There is a lot of talk about real time search but I think it is confused. Nothing is real time, particularly the typical examples that are given like Twitter (go talk to guys that build financial trading systems about “real-time”!).
Further, it is a rather unattractive property. I want data to arrive at the right time and real time is a narrow set of those cases (your house is on fire!). But we don’t understand what right time means so we’ll shove it at you whether you like it or not, so that when you actually need the data, it will have disappeared down the drain with the rest of the contents of the firehose.

Which returns me to my opening gambit. I want my phone to appear in my hand when I need it. How do we know when I need my phone? We start with behavioral triggers (he put his hand to his ear!) and continue to layer in those activities that provide meaning such as task-lists (I must order my groceries) or conversations (they are discussing the price of tomatoes).

Put that way it sounds a lot like the future of search belongs to collaboration: ‘What am I working on with you?’ is a the kind of behavioural question we could hang a new form of search off. What do we have to do to complete this project? That’s a context begging for unsolicited answers.
The future of search is not about better text fields and faster, smarter indexing; the future of search is about you and me.
This is a guest post by Jasper Westaway of OneDrum. Throughout the summer we’re running guest posts we like - exclusive to TC Europe - written by people on the tech scene in Europe. If you’d like to contribute get in touch. More info here.

FAQ on Gasta white label solution

2009-08-09T08:16:00.001-07:00

FAQ on Gasta white label solution

How will our branded site receive traffic?

a) Case 1 - A new domain with no existing traffic or index on Google

· As a Gasta Partner you will be connected with 200 active sites on the Gasta Network that have over 110,000 indexed pages in Google

· Our network will cross promote you internally across all our sites (http://gasta.com/ads/adnetwork)

· Gasta serves between 250k to 500k searches a day <-- We will push you domain

· You domain will be picked up and indexed on Google within 24-72 hours of launching

· Case example Gasta.cn <- when initially launched it was index with over 12,000 pages on Google with 6 weeks

b) Case 2 - Existing domain

· You can bring in an existing domain

· As previous applies.

Will we need to SEO the site our selves

· No, our sites are completely SEO optimised using our platform. The only thing we start out doing is creating a dictionary of keywords that describe your site (see - baroneracing.com HomePage) - this leverages and helps search engines both understand and create an index for you site.

· Our system takes care of the rest - for example Google SiteMaps, Meta Titles etc.

· We can provide you with a complete admin interface that allows you to tweak and add keywords and SEO mark-up or we can care-take this for you.

Who will host it?

· We can will host it - however we can offer to install the site on your own server if you wish.

Can we customize the links on the home page

a) Standard implementation (eg. baroneracing.com or gasta.com)

· Yes, the home page is completely customisable.

· The standard layout will allow you to change the keywords (tabbed directory) and ALL text on the home page.

· This is controlled from your admin area, or care-taken by our support team.

b) Custom implementation

· We can 100% create a customised homepage for you - alternative designs or new features as you request

Will there be adsense ads in our result page

· You can turn ads on and off via the control panel.

· If you wish to have adsense (or any other simliar third party ads) you can control them from you control panel.

· Your ads, your revenue, your option.

Note: On Ads

· The Gasta White Label has it's own version of adsense built in. We call these 'InstantAds' and 'SearchMatch'.

· Using the example http://gasta.com/Search/casino

o Draw you focus to the top left logo and the grey bar - directly below this is 'SearchMatch'.

o Now to the right column and at the top - notice your ad - this is 'InstantAds'.

· You can control the number of ads you wish to display in each unit via the admin.

· Both ad types can cross pollinate with each other.

· The Ad scope (this is how the system decides what ads to be displayed) can be set to 'exact' or 'universal'

o 'exact' is a direct keyword or contextual match

o 'universal' - display an exact match first (if available) and always display 'ad stock' regardless.

In addition

· You can sell you ad space if desired directly.

· You can create your own network of related sites.

· You can export you ads to existing sites (similar to Google Adsense)

· We can sell ad space for you.

· Turn the feature off.

I would suggest that the ads system be filled with a library of your corporate and associated network services and set to universally be displayed.

Gasta white label solution comes in three partnered solutions.

Basic

· We retain control of all Ads and Revenue including Google, SearchMatch, InstantAds and other third party campaigns

· Only the logo and keywords can be customised

· Branding and Copyright remains as part of the Gasta Network

Partnered

· As part of the Gasta Search Network all advertising revenue sold to third parties via your domain is split evenly on SearchMatch & InstantAds.

· All third party advert revenue (eg. Google Adsense, Trade Doubler etc.) on your site is 100% is retained by your company.

· You will receive a 50% discount on all adverts you place across the entire Gasta Network.

· Ad revenue sharing is completely optional. You may turn the ad system off.

· Initial set-up cost

Dedicated

· 100% Control of Ad system and 100% retained Advertising revenue

· 100% Branding as Your Company

· Create your own Exclusive Ad Network and Ad Content.

In addition we can provide you with a completely bespoke design. We can offer to redesign the home page or results page to suit your company needs.

Gasta web 2.0

2009-08-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

About Gasta
Started in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1998 Gasta is a global search engine and web directory. Translated into six Languages, Gasta has now launched search engines in Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, French, & German,

Gasta has now launched SearchMatch paid inclusion programs for all 400 of its search engines and sees paid listings as the future of Internet marketing enabling and empowering advertisers to bid on niche contextual Keywords and phrases that are directly related to their business. Gasta organic growth of traffic extends the long tail of keywords and adds added value to all our client campaigns.

Platform
Gasta is written in MVC Asp.net, C#, and XML, Jscript,

Social Marketing Services
Gasta now offers the ability to share web search results, videos, news items, images, and Blogs with your chosen social networking partner site, Gasta now has social marketing links with FaceBook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Stumbleupon, Bebo, and Digg. This service not only offers an added value to our users but also greatly assists our advertisers with their social marketing and brand awareness campaigns.

Geo Targeting
Gasta automatically includes effective Geo Targeting of advertising across regions so the user searching in Dublin receives adverts from Dublin and UK Regions and the user searching in New York receives inventory from USA regions.

More than 97% of gasta.com users live and/or work in the regional search areas the index is aimed at. This offers an extremely focused way of targeting prospective customers. Localize to globalize. With Gasta.com you the advertiser only pay for the traffic you receive. Gasta.com has a unique featured Site scheme allows you to directly gear expenditure to traffic. This is the most cost effective method with no wasted clicks.

Diverse User Base

Gasta.com search results are rendered by a network of Search Partners ranging from major Internet brands to organizations who specifically address the Region. Gasta has also implemented social marketing tools on all search results to share video, news, images, blogs, and web results as well as the actual SearchMatch ad itself. A unique service for a search engine.
Gasta.com has a more focussed appeal because it is targeted directly to a local audience

Ad Management
24/7 Ad Campaign Management access your account and manage your listings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the gasta.com Management and bid System

Gasta white Label solution
The Gasta Hosted white label solution can be launched in a matter of minutes and offers a variety of solutions and ad platforms to Partners. These search engines can start earning revenues as soon as they are launched with a variety of monetisation features such as preloaded Google Adsense and SearchMatch and InstantAds platforms. Gasta has now launched white label partner sites in India, USA, and Australia. We are currently seeking regional partners in China, Singapore, and Latin America.

Partners
Gasta partners include:
Services: Microsoft Bing, Google, Miva, ABC Search, Adify, BT, Mirago UK, Admeld, Adconion,
Social Marketing: LinkedIn, FaceBook, Twitter, Digg, Stumbleupon, Bebo,
Content : BBC, Irish Times, Irish News, Belfastmedia group, FlashSeek,
Francis Higgins
bizz@amiwired.com

Gasta SearchMatch

2009-08-07T09:58:00.000-07:00

Your Customers Are Online: Can They Find Your Website?
The search world is fluid; keywords, rankings, links and more change everyday, and define your brands online success or failure. Help your customers find your products and services by effectively promoting your online brand with proven techniques. A recent Datran Media survey found 57% of marketing executives identified search marketing as one of the strongest advertising mediums for their company. Another 54% indicated that they have increased budgets for search while decreasing offline and direct marketing efforts.
Gasta SearchMatch™ now offering the best value for European keyword advertising across 200+ internet search engines. Get your niche targeted keywords now with a unique Instant Ad Free/

Social Marketing Services
Gasta now offers the ability to share web search results, videos, news items, images, and Blogs with your chosen social networking partner site, Gasta now has social marketing links with FaceBook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Stumbleupon, Bebo, and Digg. This service not only offers an added value to our users but also greatly assists our advertisers with their social marketing and brand awareness campaigns.

Gasta SEO: Organic and Paid Listings

2009-03-10T06:16:00.000-07:00

Search engine optimization is the practice of targeting the search engines with keyword-rich content so that your blog posts, web pages, and other online content has a chance to rank well for the keywords and concepts that are important for your business. But how do you do it?

First, let me say that it’s no easy task. Even if you know how to write search engine friendly content, you have to compete against other businesses in your niche targeting the same keywords. You could try to find the gaps in the market and target those keywords that no one else is going after. But are those keywords valuable? That’s a decision you have to make.

The key to optimizing your web pages are the find the Gasta keywords that are just right for your business. They may or may not be the most valuable keywords for your niche, but they are the perfect fit for your business and the customers you want to target. Then, once you identify the perfect keywords, you build pages that are designed to rank well and deliver targeted traffic to those pages consistently.
With Gasta.com there is no PPC so therefore no click fraud, every click is already paid for in your time slot, time slots run for 3 months, 6 months, or one year. The time slots allow marketers to have a summer campaign or a winter campaign, for intsnace you could target the music festival season, or christmas. This model was developed by gasta.com in the late nineties to better organise and manage ad revenues.

Gasta.com Business savvy Model Catching On

2009-03-10T05:49:00.000-07:00

The CPC pricing model has moved from strength to strength since the last recession in 2000-2002. As you might recall, even as online advertising declined by 27 percent, CPC advertising grew by a staggering 820 percent.

The shift was primarily driven by the fact that CPC advertising allowed advertisers to pay for clicks and not for wasted impressions. Advertisers warmed up to the offerings of Google and other search engines, and since then, the growth of CPC advertising has continued unabated.

However, like the example of unconstrained capitalism referenced earlier, CPC advertising cannot maintain its growth in its current state. It contains within it factors that run counter to its promise of increased returns and measurability of online advertising, which in turn will cause it to slow down, and in the long term give way to other pricing models.

These factors include:

Increasing costs of keywords
You might have heard of Jama, the Portland-based software company that moved money away from search engine marketing toward charitable contributions to see if the resulting publicity could generate business in a more affordable way. Jama is not alone in worrying about the rising cost of keywords. If you are a search marketer, you probably have worried about your marketing ROI.

A 2007 DoubleClick Performics Search Trends Report shows that there were nearly six times as many keywords with a cost-per-click of more than $1 in January 2007 than the prior year. The cost-per-keyword increased by 33 percent and the cost-per-click rose by as much as 55 percent.

That, to say the least, is a lot.

Increasing click fraud rate
In the third quarter of 2008, the Click Fraud report maintained by Click Forensics showed a 16 percent industry click fraud rate. The report said that average click fraud rate of PPC advertisements appearing on search engine content networks (e.g., Google AdSense and Yahoo Publisher Network) was as high as 27.1 percent.

With sophisticated technologies like botnets used to perpetrate click fraud on the rise, advertisers could very well end up paying for fraudulent clicks, which in a bad economy is more than wasteful -- it is criminal.

Lack of transparency
Search engines commonly deploy algorithms to determine the cost-per-click and the position of the advertisements. Yahoo, Ask.com, and Google have their own algorithms to determine the amount marketers will have to pay for a given advertisement.

The problem is that there is little to no transparency in the algorithm. It is difficult for marketers to determine how landing page quality, the quality of the ad copy, and variations on the bid price work together to determine the exact position and price of the search advertisement.

There is yet another element that contributes to the lack of transparency.

Often, it is difficult for the online marketer to know exactly where the click is coming from. Search networks often encompass a large number of sites beyond the primary entity. Many search engines don't divulge the member sites of their "content network."

The lack of transparency can ultimately be an inhibiting factor in increasing return on investment.

Difficult to tie campaign to business metrics
Metrics such as clicks, click-through rates, and cost-per-clicks are far removed from actual business metrics like acquisitions and sales. As a result, many marketers are unable to correlate the two, and optimize campaigns in an effective manner that will help them drive revenue.

According to the "2007 Marketing ROI and Measurements Study" from Lenskold Group and Marketing Profs, only 9 percent of marketers say their ability to measure the financial returns across all forms of marketing is "a real source of leadership" or "as good as it needs to be."

A McKinsey report, "How poor metrics undermine digital marketing," written after a survey of 340 senior executives around the country, sums it up aptly: Hobbled by nascent technologies, inconsistent metrics, and a reliance on outdated media models, marketers are failing to tap the digital world's full power.

To prevent a race to the bottom, the online advertising industry will have to ring in important changes that will address the shortcomings of CPC campaigns as they exist today.

1. Change in pricing models: If the last recession saw the industry move from a CPM to a CPC pricing model, the current recession will see the logical progression towards the cost-per-lead (CPL) pricing model. A move to CPL advertising will solve the problems resulting from expensive keywords and high click fraud rates.

"The industry is moving towards CPL advertising," says Daniel Taylor, senior analyst in Yankee Group's Consumer Research group. "The CPC pricing model is a placeholder for CPL," he says. "Advertisers only want to pay for very specific consumer interactions, and not for wasted clicks or impressions."

2. Improved transparency: Be it for display advertising, search advertising, or online lead generation, there will have to be a move toward greater transparency. Stretched for dollars, advertisers will want to optimize their campaigns to the greatest extent possible, and transparency helps them identify better performing placements accurately.

3. Improved customer relationship management (CRM): Marketers will also have to focus to a greater extent on the campaign backend to ensure that their marketing campaigns convert into tangible returns and revenue.

Email service providers and other CRM solutions will reap the benefits of this holistic marketing approach. According to Datamonitor, the CRM industry is forecast to reach $6.6 billon by year-end 2012, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 10.5 percent.

Bad times bring about change -- that in turn lead to good times. The movement toward CPL advertising, improved transparency, and a greater focus on CRM are important ones will help online advertising deliver on its promise and hopefully prevent it from sowing the seeds of its own demise.

Zephrin Lasker is co-founder and CEO of Pontiflex.

Gasta Search News: Ask Latest reinvigouration

2009-03-06T09:34:00.000-08:00

Ask.com Aims For More Relevance, More Engagement With Latest Revamp; More Users Wouldn’t Hurt
Yet another update from search engine Ask.com just a year and a half after its last overhaul. It’s going live today in the US with its “next generation,” while the UK launch is slated for October 20. Goals include reducing searches to one click and providing direct answers on the results page in high-volume categories. The changes follow a shift in strategy announced last spring to focus less on the whiz-bang kind of services that might impress “the digerati” and more on practical results.
Ask says it has improved site download speeds by 30 percent compared to the same time last year. The search engine says it remains the thirteenth largest Internet brand in the UK and cites Hitwise, who says Ask.com’s unique users in the UK has grown 38.6 percent, faster than any of the other major search engines. From July to August, Ask.com’s unique UK users grew from 6.5 million to 6.9 million. In terms of market share, however, this is still a miniscule slice of the market. In August, Ask.com share was 2.69 percent, compared to Google.co.uk’s 73.13 percent, and Google.com’s 14.20 percent.
—Ask “now ranks and integrates content from a broader and more comprehensive set of content types – such as breaking news, blogs, images, videos, and music – right into the center panel.”
—Ask goes deeper into its highest-volume categories—Entertainment, Health & Nutrition, Jobs, and Reference—for direct responses.
—A new Q&A channel with direct answers to “everyday” questions. It draws on q&a content from across the web. There’s also a new direct answers channel—http://www.answers.ask.com/
—Dropping nav icons for text to make loading the homepage faster.

Gasta News: Digital Britain

2009-03-06T09:31:00.000-08:00

Digital Britain: Online BBC Rival ‘A Priority’; Govt ‘Must Act On Aggregators’
So keen are media watchers to hear the likely recommendations of Lord Stephen Carter‘s upcoming Digital Britain report, an overspill room was needed at the Royal College of Medicine this morning to house those gathered to hear him speak. But the communications, technology and broadcasting minister was giving precious few hints at the Westminster e-Forum...
Carter did say safeguarding independent online and digital news sources that rival the BBC is “an absolute priority”, “something future generations will thank us for”. He said a “strong, fully-funded, ambitious BBC, acting as an enabler for the rest of the sector” is in everyone’s interests, alongside a “strong (commercial) alternative”. But he spoke only generally, dodging detail and saving the real headlines for the publication proper later this month.
—Broadband for all: “In our fixed networks, I think we are reaching the stage where we require an acceptable minimum level of service for everyone.” Some reports have suggested Carter will ask telcos to guarantee internet access as a universal service obligation. BT (NYSE: BT), for its part, has requested government investment to offset its own spending on next-gen infrastructure.
—Carter’s thinking: Carter said UK ad spend will fall by six to eight percent this year. Another big influence - the falling share price and market cap of big media players like BT, BSkyB (NYSE: BSY) and ITV (LSE: ITV), which has seen its share price drop 70 percent in recent years. “These are salutary statistics, not least because they give you some idea of the ability of private markets to provide continued investment,” he says.
—BBC/Google (NSDQ: GOOG) effect: Guardian Media Group CEO Carolyn McCall told the forum BBC Worldwide has a distorting effect on the UK media market because it has exclusive access to BBC content. Though she was careful not to use the “G” word, her target was clear when she highlighted the concern of many in the newspaper business regarding search engines: “They don’t invest anything in UK content at a time when content producers are finding it very difficult. The government really needs to think seriously about the effects of aggregators.”
—Public service TV: Carter criticised commercial public broadcasters - whose sustainability is being reviewed by Ofcom - for failing to propose their own funding ideas: “Given that this is supposed to be one of our most creative sectors, it is one of the most conservative sectors when it comes to looking for future solutions”.
Carter’s review for the DCMS and BERR will urge legislative and regulatory changes to safeguard broadband access, salvage DAB, protect kids online and more, and could also result in regulatory framework changes at Ofcom, which is itself conducting a review of public service TV funding.

Gasta Top Keywords

2009-03-05T08:45:00.000-08:00

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VFI Briefing:Purchasing Overseas real estate

2008-08-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

Purchasing Italian real estate

Once a property has been located, the first step is an agreement between the buyer and the seller, known as a Proposal to Purchase. This offer contains a specific timeframe in which the seller can accept the offer. The buyer pays a minimum deposit of 10 percent of the purchase price. The deposit can be higher than this, and it is not uncommon for the deposits to run up to 50 percent, according to Property-Abroad.com. The Proposal to Purchase is legally binding, according to “Investment in International Real Estate,” a Pirola Pennuto Zei & Associati publication. If the seller accepts, the buyer is obligated to complete the transaction and the deposit will be forfeit if the buyer withdraws.

“An alternative and recommended approach is to incorporate the terms of the Proposal to Purchase directly into the purchase and sales contract ensuring to allow a period in which the buyer has the right to carry out a full due diligence on the property and/or entity(ies) holding the property and the possibility of the buyer backing out should the due diligence point to there being some legal or tax problem associated with the property,” according to the publication.

Focusing on improving one property may be wise

The Preliminary Contract of Sale formalizes the buyer’s and seller’s agreement. This document provides details about the property, the buyer, the seller, the price, and any other terms of the transaction.

The entire process is overseen by a notary. In addition to the typical duties associated with a notary, this person will conduct the title search to ensure that the property is clear of liens and other problems, according to Property-Abroad.com. The notary witnesses the closing of the sale.

Investors should, of course, carry out proper due diligence before agreeing to purchase any property. This is especially important when purchasing property in a country with unfamiliar laws and regulations.

“Italian laws are complex [and] there are important concerns that go beyond clean title,” Carroll said. “For instance, a buyer needs to be certain that prior works carried out on a property have been done with proper permits and are in compliance with zoning regulations and that rights of neighboring landowners are respected....[S]evere penalties exist for failure to fulfill the obligation to purchase once the P&S is entered in to."

After purchasing a home in Italy, investors can either try to sell for a profit, rent the property to some of the many tourists visiting Italy every year and/or use the property themselves as a vacation home. Many websites are available on which property owners can advertise foreign homes for sale or rent.

VFI Briefing:Purchasing Overseas real estate

2008-08-20T07:33:00.000-07:00

The Italian real estate market

“After 10 years of significant run-up in prices in major markets and sought-after country properties, prices now have leveled,” according to Carroll. Properties in both rural and urban areas can prove profitable, though Property-Abroad.com states that properties in rural regions of Italy have been especially popular in recent years.

Apartments are a popular choice when purchasing property in one of the larger cities, such as Rome or Milan. Apartments in areas such as Sardinia, Venice, Sicily, Milan and Florence are all popular among foreign investors, according to Property-Abroad.com. For those looking to cash in on the tourist industry, Carroll said that areas such as Sicily, Puglia and Campania are particularly attractive for investment.

Cost varies by location. Prices in Milan range anywhere from €8,000 per square meter for a city apartment to €24,000 per square meter for a penthouse with luxuries such as a terrace and swimming pool, according to a report from real estate agents Immobiliare Terelli & Partners. In Sicily “[p]rices, which have been rising as much as 20 percent a year, still seem reasonable, especially to north Europeans but even to Italians from Milan and Turin,” according to The International Herald Tribune. “Country and town properties are available for as little as €60,000, though for a building of particular architectural interest the starting price is nearer €250,000.”

In upcoming years, “[f]ocus will be on adding value—refurbishing, renegotiation of lease contracts, etc.—to existing portfolios rather than on new investments as these will make more economic sense,” according to Carroll. Pessi, on the other hand, believes that the future of the property market is still too hard to predict in the wake of the subprime crisis. Investors would be wise to proceed with caution, keeping an eye on the market, and perhaps put more energy into upgrading and renting a few properties rather than purchasing an abundance of homes.

Italian Real Estate: È Bello!

2008-08-20T07:32:00.000-07:00

Italian Real Estate: È Bello!

Tourist trade could make buying property in Italy worthwhile

With its beautiful countryside and Mediterranean getaways, Italy has long been a favorite vacation destination with travelers across the world. The country’s popularity with tourists could make Italian real estate a prime opportunity for investors.

Italy is located in Southern Europe, where it juts out into the Mediterranean Sea. The country shares borders with Austria, France, San Marino, Slovenia and Switzerland. Italy occupies a total of 301,230 square kilometers, making it just slightly larger than the U.S. state of Arizona (295,260 square kilometers). The peninsula is home to an estimated 58,147,733 people as of July 2007, according to the CIA World Factbook.

Both rural and urban properties in Italy have potential for profit

Why Italian real estate?

“Italy's exquisite cultural patrimony, evocative countryside and ‘made in Italy’ craftsmanship all combine to preserve the value of Italian real property,” Donald J. Carroll, Esq.—special counsel to and member of Pirola Pennuto Zei & Associati in Rome and vice co-chair of the ABA Committee on International Investment in Real Estate—said in an e-mail interview.

The flourishing tourist industry in Italy provides a strong potential rental market for investors looking to buy overseas. In 2006, Italy ranked fifth on the World Tourism Organization’s list of top tourist destinations, with 41.1 million international arrivals. Southern Italy, in particular, has been of great interest to vacationers. Homes and apartments along the coast or in the relaxed country settings that tourists favor have the potential to provide substantial rental income.

“Among Europe’s main destinations, Italy was by far the best performer in 2006, after a number of weaker years. Arrivals were up 12 percent, following an excellent winter season at the start of the year, thanks in part to Turin’s hosting of the Winter Olympics,” according to a World Tourism Organization report.

And U.S. investors don’t need to worry about restrictions on property ownership because of their citizenship status. Foreigners enjoy the same property rights as Italian citizens, according to Marco Pessi, a partner with McDermott Will & Emery located in the Rome office. The only difference is that foreign nationals must pay an 11 percent purchase registration tax once the sale has been completed, while Italian citizens need only pay a 4 percent tax.

2008-08-07T05:34:00.000-07:00

“The Italian government is pushing money into the region to encourage regeneration and tourism, road links have been improved, and

there is an international airport at Lamezia Terme that has flights from Germany, Holland, Switzerland and the UK. I believe property

prices in this region have a good chance of increasing significantly over the next few years. Tourism and holiday housing is a prime target for growth as prices are still lower than in many comparable locations. You could expect double digit growth.”

SUNDAY TIMES.

“Calabria’s coastline is among the most unspoilt and affordable in Europe”

Laura Latan, THE INDEPENDENT.

VFI Brochure:Soverato

2008-08-07T05:28:00.000-07:00

Soverato is situated in the Calabrian province of Catanzaro in Southern Italy.

It is one of the most known and beautiful tourist resorts on the Ionian coast, having been referred to as ‘The Gem of Ionian Sea’. The region offers mild and pleasant weather all year round, due to the microclimate that engulfs the area. The seas are crystal clear and the region is blessed by many beautiful beaches and hidden coves that attract various water-sports and diving enthusiasts. The fishing port of Soverato is one of the best known and most active ports in southern Italy, ensuring that great seafood is always on the menu with its many many varieties cheesees, pasta and peppers of the many restaurants in the region.

Nightlife in Soverato is mixed and varied, ranging from the lively beachside bars and
restaurants to the picturesque narrow streets and quaint restaurants that litter the
old town. Every summer, the town attracts many American Italians returning to their
homeland as well as Italians from the North who visit on holidays. During the summer months, a nightly funfair takes place on the beach which attracts the young and the old alike to party till the early hours of the morning.

Soverato is 15 minutes away from the town of Catanzaro.

technorati

2008-08-07T05:07:00.001-07:00

VFI Italian History Links

2008-08-06T08:45:00.000-07:00

Here are some great links to find out more about Calabria and Its unique history.

Calabria
History of Calabria starting from palaeolithic age. Not too long and well written

The Complete History Of Calabria
Calabria From Prehistoric to Modern Day.

THE ROMANS Ancient, Medieval and Modern
For the real history buff. Page after page, of Roman and medevil history, pictures and text.

MEDITERRANEAN ARCHAEOLOGY RESOURCES
This site contains some of the best Archeology links on the internet.

Maps of Italy (It)
Here you will find city maps as well as regional and provincia... On Line!

Historical Map Web Sites
Access hundreds of Historical maps on line. Here too, are some great ancient Italian maps.
Italy Maps

The Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection The University of Texas at Austin and produced by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, unless otherwise indicated.

VFI - INCALABRIA: Italian Magazine Article (Part 2)

2008-08-05T10:30:00.000-07:00

PERFECT PASTA

The food of Calabria, despite the abundance of fish, is primarily a diet of simple fresh pasta and homegrown vegetables cooked in fascinatingly different ways. Although pasta is important to all Italians, in Calabria it is almost treated with reverence. Each city or town has its own specialities, from chewy fusilli, to various types of lasagne.

Calabrians seem to know by instinct, the best sauce to pair with each pasta to create the most delicious dishes. Piero caused me to sample many varieties of homemade pasta, such as macaroni alla pastora (with ricotta cheese) and other sauces, fusilli (curly pasta), vermicelli in soup and tortellini in brodo. His own favourite was pollo alla cacciatore (‘hunter’s chicken’), to say nothing of uove alla purgatorio (‘eggs from purgatory’). You can imagine how I gradually became drawn into a cuisine far removed from my own by this expert young cook, backed up by total single-minded enthusiasm for his subject. With youthful exuberance I once suggested fish and chips to him and he returned to Italy with a craving even for that. It fitted the Calabrian palette perfectly – good, simple but tasty basic fare. As it happened, I visited Piero and his family on several occasions in the years that followed. His family welcomed me with incredible warmth and I felt part of that corner of Italy. We would visit Piero’s mum, who made all sorts of typical Calabrian dishes for anyone lucky enough to visit. Like highland hospitality in my own country, Calabrians regard it as a sacred duty to welcome guests and I was ushered into many a happy gathering under the gaze of Padre Pio, whose caring picture adorned the rooms. I learned that Piero also had another passion: he was an avid stamp collector and his passionate nature had an outlet here too. Lovingly organized albums of stamps surrounded him in his room. As I met the local folk I discovered the famously proud Calabrian dialect. Its weird and resonant words made me swim as I struggled to understand, equipped only with average Italian, a language I had come to love. Calabrian is an Italian dialect and a descendant of Vulgar Latin, but it has plenty of Greek influence too from the Magna Graecia period. I remember being sent home on one occasion with a bag of cuddaraci (Easter buns), one of many words of Greek origin.

I was favoured this year by being able to return to see my old friend after a gap of 25 years. In that time, with family and professional matters intervening for both of us, I had never forgotten the pull of this land. Piero welcomed me back to a country that I now think of as my second home. It was the little things that jumped out at me – zuppa Inglese ice-cream, spaghetti alla vongole, seeing the wonderful way Calabrians use their hands when they speak, young Italians going to school, walks along the beach and meeting folk I had not seen for years. If this evocation persuades you to consider a visit, you should know that I have not even mentioned the archaeological areas of Sibari and Locri Epizefiri, the towns of Gerace and Stilo, to say nothing of the forests of Sila, dubbed the Yellowstone of Calabria. All the more reason to investigate further. Unusual destination it may be but, like a real life pearl,Calabria hides its beauty.

VFI - INCALABRIA: Italian Magazine Article

2008-08-05T10:12:00.000-07:00

Bill Kean heads off the tourist map and explores the wild, untamed and spectacular region
of Calabria to discover whether it deserves its tough reputation.

THE LAND THAT ITALY FORGOT Part 1.

Unusual destinations, it seems, are the thing these days and these occasional forays of the mind can be seen as fashion statements as much as what you wear. On Italy’s southern tip, contained by the Tyrrhenian and lonian Seas, lies such a place – a region of Italy that offers great riches of a unique kind.

It is, of course, Calabria, a little known Italian haven for those with an adventurous nature. It is situated in the heart of the Mezzogiorno, named in reference to the unremitting midday sun
which bakes this area of Italy’s deep south. Its rugged, essentially mountainous terrain hosts the densely wooded Apennine range,acting as a seemingly never ending link to the rest of Italy.
But Calabria could almost be another country compared to the provinces further north. Explore its valleys and you discover a culture apparently untouched by recent centuries. Its effect on
the visitor is quite distinct and, offering extremely good value
for the euro, a little goes a long way in this wonderful land.

VFI Brochure: Italian Travel Advice.

2008-08-05T10:02:00.000-07:00

Visitors

Travel insurance for visitors to Italy should include personal liability and repatriation expenses. If your travel insurance expires while you’re visiting Italy, you can buy further insurance from a local insurance agent, although this won’t include repatriation expenses. Flight and comprehensive travel insurance are available from insurance desks at most airports, including travel accident, personal accident, world-wide medical expenses and in-transit baggage.

Cost

The cost of travel insurance varies considerably according to where you buy it, how long you intend to stay in Italy and your age. Generally the longer the period covered, the cheaper the daily cost, although the maximum period covered is usually limited, e.g. to six months. With some policies, an excess must be paid for each claim; with others, the excess applies only to certain items, such as luggage, money and medical expenses. As a rough guide, travel insurance for Italy (and most other European countries) costs from around €35 for one week, €50 for two weeks and €80 for a month for a family of four (two adults and two children under 16). Premiums may be higher for those aged over 65 or 70.

Annual Policies

For people who travel abroad frequently, whether on business or pleasure, an annual travel policy usually provides the best value, but carefully check exactly what it includes. Many insurance companies offer annual travel policies for around €150 to €250 per year for an individual (the equivalent of around two to three months’ insurance with a standard travel insurance policy), which are excellent value for frequent travellers. Some insurance companies also offer an ‘emergency travel policy’ for holiday homeowners who need to travel abroad at short notice to inspect a property, e.g. after a severe storm or burglary. The cost of an annual policy may depend on the area covered, e.g. Europe, world-wide (excluding North America) and world-wide (including North America), although it doesn’t usually cover travel within your country of residence. There’s also a limit on the number of trips per year and the duration of each trip, e.g. 90 or 120 days. An annual policy is usually a good choice for owners of a holiday home in Italy who travel there frequently for relatively short periods.

Carefully check exactly what’s covered (or omitted), as an annual holiday and travel insurance policy may not provide adequate cover.

Claims

If you need to make a claim, you should provide as much documentary evidence as possible to support it. Travel insurance companies gladly take your money, but they aren’t always so keen to pay claims and you may need to persevere before they pay up. Always be persistent and make a claim irrespective of any small print, as this may be unreasonable and therefore invalid in law. Insurance companies usually require you to report a loss (or any incident for which you intend to make a claim) to the local police or carriers within 24 hours and obtain a written report. Failure to do so may mean that a claim won’t be considered.

VFI Brochure: Italian Travel Advice. Health Cover

2008-08-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

Health Cover

Medical expenses are an important aspect of travel insurance and you shouldn’t rely on insurance provided by reciprocal health arrangements, charge and credit card companies, household policies or private medical insurance (unless it’s an international policy), none of which usually provide adequate cover, although you should take advantage of what they offer. The minimum medical insurance recommended by experts is €400,000 for Italy and the rest of Europe and €1.5 million for the rest of the world (many policies have limits of between €2.25 million and €7.5 million). If applicable, check whether pregnancy-related claims are covered and whether there are any restrictions for those over a certain age, e.g. 65 or 70 (travel insurance is becoming increasingly expensive for those aged over 65, although they don’t usually need to worry about pregnancy – particularly the men!).

VFI Brochure: Italian Travel Advice.

2008-08-05T09:58:00.000-07:00

Holiday and travel insurance (assicurazione sul viaggio) are recommended for all who don’t wish to risk having their holiday or travel ruined by financial problems or to arrive home broke. As you probably know, anything can and often does go wrong with a holiday, sometimes before you even get started (particularly when you don’t have insurance). The following information applies equally to residents and non-residents, whether you’re travelling to or from Italy or within Italy. Nobody should visit Italy without travel (and health) insurance.

Travel insurance is available from many sources, including travel agents, insurance companies and brokers, banks, motoring organisations and transport companies (airline, rail and bus). Package holiday companies and tour operators also offer insurance policies, some of which are compulsory, overpriced and don’t provide adequate cover. You can also buy 24-hour accident and flight insurance at major airports, although it’s expensive and doesn’t offer the best cover. Before taking out travel insurance, you should carefully consider the range and level of cover you require and compare policies. Short-term holiday and travel insurance policies may include cover for holiday cancellation or interruption, missed flights, departure delay at both the start and end of a holiday (a common occurrence), delayed, lost or damaged baggage, lost belongings and money, medical expenses and accidents (including evacuation home), personal liability and legal expenses, and default or bankruptcy, e.g. a tour operator or airline going bust. You may also need cover for transport strikes in Italy!

Always check any exclusion clauses in contracts by obtaining a copy of the full policy document, as all relevant information won’t be included in an insurance leaflet. High risk sports and pursuits should be specifically covered and listed in a policy (there’s usually an additional premium). Special winter sports policies are available and more expensive than normal holiday insurance (‘dangerous’ sports are excluded from most standard policies). Third party liability cover should be €3 million in North America and €1.5 million in the rest of the world. However, this doesn’t usually cover you when you’re driving a car or other mechanically propelled vehicle.

VFI News: Southern Italy Investments defy Credit Crunch

2008-08-05T09:47:00.000-07:00

Property in Italy is holding up in the credit crunch with experts predicting modest growth in many areas. Locations with a strong tourist market are the best to invest in and southern Italy in particular is still offering lower priced investments...

Italy hasn't experienced the same problems as the UK and Spanish property markets and the risk of a downturn is considerably lower, according to a new report from Cluttons Italy.

One reason is a significant shift in the Italian market in recent years. 'Until 10 to 15 years ago the majority of foreign buyers were middle class people looking for their storybook villa in culturally rich areas like Tuscany and the Amalfi coast,' the report says.

'Now the arrival of low cost airlines has made southern Italy much more accessible, steering a wider range of buyers to lower cost resort properties in southern regions like Puglia and Calabria.'.

Fashionable areas like Capri and the Amalfi coast are likely to see property prices continuing to rise. Cluttons predicts around 10% this year.

But Calabria in Southern Italy where prices are cheaper is set to become one of the most popular destinations in Europe, and the next Mediterranean property investment success story.

'Property prices are comparatively cheaper than other similar areas in Europe. Also the area will not be overdeveloped due to strict government planning controls. This will ensure that demand remains high for rental accommodation and resale properties,' said Roger Coombes of Cluttons Italy.

'When an area like Calabria begins to attract increasing international attention, it is all but a foregone conclusion that property prices will see sustained and rapid growth of at least 10-15 percent per year,' predicted Liam Bailey of David Stanley Redfern.

And Chris Sawyer, GEM Estates' Italy expert is also backing the area, 'It's largely the southernmost region of Calabria that's fuelling this heightened interest. As soon as the British buying public realized that chic Italy had a hidden corner which was both aesthetically stunning and highly affordable, the rush was on,' he said.

'Calabria is now jostling for attention alongside the established Côtes and Costas and ticks boxes for both lifestyle buyers after a pleasant climate and attractive coastline and investors with an eye for a profit.'
Reprinted courtesy of Propertywire.com

Incalabria Forum removes slanderous posts.

2008-08-04T06:17:00.000-07:00

Incalabria forum slanders VFI in an attempt to descredit the company. Forum moderators on the incalabria forum have posted a a malicous articles about mafia involvement and arrests.This is the excuse for an apology that was posted after the removal of the offending article. Isnt it about time that the authorities closed this forum down?
Dear all,

Further to Mr Giambrone and Brendan's posts, I would like to reassure everyone that the Calabria Homes Forum always has been and always will be open, honest and truthful and this is the reason why I took steps at 12.14pm today to remove Gerace's post.

This in fact was done before the post received by a certain law firm so I hope everyone is reasured that we will not and cannot tolerate libelous/slanderous/defamatory remarks. I am NOT a legal expert but I am, like all of you, buying a home in Calabria and do not want to be misled by unsubstantiated rumour or malicious gossip.

The Forum is open to everyone and I really hope Brendan and any other legal professionals who would like to join us will be warmly welcomed by everyone. It can only be for the good of us all to have access to their knowledge and experience.
Dear all,

With regard to the post made by Gerace regarding A certain developer, I have had to put my moderator's 'hat' on this morning :wink: and have temporarily removed the message until the details can be verified.

Dennis from InCalabria Ltd is going to be making contact with the CEO of A certain developer later today to try and clarify what is/is not happening.

I can understand people's concerns regarding the rumours that are flying around but we want our reputation to remain intact as a Forum that is fair, honest and truthful. We certainly don't want to run the risk of supporting or being seen to endorse information that we cannot substantiate or, worse still, proves libelous!

Hoping you understand and appreciate why this is being done.

Kind regards

Sam

VFI INCALABRIA

2008-08-01T06:25:00.000-07:00

VFI make it easy for you to view and buy in Calabria

• Once you’ve settled on your choice of property we ask you to pay an initial reservation fee of €3000 before

embarking within 28 days on an inspection trip to explore the resort and its surroundings

• If you then decide to go ahead with your purchase, that €3000 goes towards your deposit of 35% of the sale

price (the balance being payable within 28 days)

• 12 months later a further 10% becomes payable

• On completion and handover of your property, the balance of 55% is due

• Each of these transactions is handled by an independent lawyer who’s fully qualified and highly experienced in

both UK and Italian property law

• To ensure you’re clear with the process from the word go, your lawyer will talk you through every step over a

pleasant dinner and answer any and all of your questions

• As specified by Italian law, 100% of your money is guaranteed by an insurance bond, which ensures that all

monies are returned in the event of unforeseen building or other difficulties

• All building work comes with a ten-year guarantee similar to the UK’s NHBC

Please get in touch if you’d like more details on these or any other aspects of the buying process

VFI incalabria

2008-07-24T13:58:00.000-07:00

For many years the Italians from the northern cities of Milan , Florence and Rome have been trooping down to Calabria for their holidays. They call it the “real Italian Riviera” and love it for its unspoilt character, good value for money, 800 kilometres of beaches and crystal blue sea. The costal towns have a distinctive charm about them and can only benefit from the 1.2 billion euro in which the Italian government and the EU is investing in improving roads and infrastructure. “You can see Calabria growing by the day,” says Harry Fitzsimons, CEO of VFI Overseas Property. And land prices are growing too. “I bought the first plot of land 18 months ago and prices have gone up since by 25 to 35 per cent.

The local government is also determined to ensure that Calabria does not go the way of the Costa del Sol or the Algarve . Regulations prohibit building within 300 metres of the beach however Jewel of the Sea has a plot that is right on the beach, probably one of the last remaining developments in a location like this. This was possible because the site had received planning permission in the early 1990s. Local government has also stipulated that a development has to be low density and low rise. There is also a good Italian rental market and with tour operators such as Thomas Cook and Club Med now operating there, the developers suggest that a two bed roomed apartment could achieve around €1000 a week in the high season. “We reckon that if someone had a 70 per cent mortgage on their property, they need only let it for 12 weeks of the year to cover the costs,” says Antonio Velardo of VFI.

VFI Overseas Developers

VFI Overseas Developers are an Irish/Italian Development company. In this project the best kept Italian secret has been exposed in the most exciting new emerging market with massive potential for capital appreciation.

Most emerging markets however, do not have the same security and infrastructure that this Major European country offers.

The biggest dream an investor could have is to find a developed country where prices are still low, and still has all the protections, infrastructures etc. of modern Europe in place. Now is the time to live that dream in the most beautiful part of Italy from as little as €75,000 for one bed apartments.

Reggio De Calabria is the regional capital. A University city overlooking the straits of Messina where hydrofoils and ferries cross to Sicily every fifteen minutes. The city is a transport hub with an international airport and main Railway line up through Naples to Rome through panoramic landscapes.

VFI Pizzo Beach Club

2008-07-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

Pizzo Prettily perched on a high slope of an enchanting promontory into the Tyrrhenian Sea in the heart of the Sant’ Eufemia Gulf, Pizzo is one of the Vibo Valentia district’s most beautiful and best-knowntowns. Built on the ruins of ancient Roman Napitia, where St Peterstopped on his journey to Rome, Pizzo is in the northern stretch ofthe aptly named Coast of the Gods amid some of Italy’s mostbreathtaking landscapes. With its thriving fishing port, maze ofnarrow medieval streets and lanes linked by tiny staircases, ancientfountains, buildings and churches and the Spuntone - a large balcony from which you can view the imposing Aragonis Castle and the sea from Lamezia to Capo vaticano - Pizzo is steeped inhistory. But it’s also a vibrant and well-equipped modern resort town with every facility and attraction the cosmopolitan traveller could wish for - from watersports through golf and specialist historical tours to an excellent range of seafood restaurants and nightlife and the best ice cream in the world - so it’s little wonder that Pizzo is now one of the Vibo Valentia’s most fashionable resorts, or that we chose this as the location for our latest prestige development.

Calabria Sicilia Italy

2008-07-22T11:32:00.001-07:00

For Property for Sale Calabria Sicilia Italy

visit http://www.vfioverseasproperty.com

Miles of sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and a climate among the best in the World -
This is Calabria in Southern Italy a place that dreams are made of.If you're searching for a great property investment then you must speak to VFI Overseas Property -- and you really must investigate Calabria - this is one place in Europe that is not only stunningly beautiful but also still offers great value Be it for investment or a holiday home then VFI have something really special just for you Every property is 100% Bank Bonded and comes with a 10 year building guarantee. With prices ranging from 30,000 pounds to 200,000 pounds this is an affordable place in haven and VFI have some fantastic turn key packages available, they can even arrange your inspection visit so you can see first hand the area and meet with the developers.

Kevin and Linda Dolan who bought an apartment with VFI say: "I would have no hesitation in recommending this company not only for the service but the great value too"

The secret of success for VFI is based upon a rather straightforward business philosophy - being able to offer opportunities that yield the best returns whilst at the same time delivering a quality of service that is second to none. VFI are the largest developer in Southern Italy with office in Brancaleone, Vibo Valentia and also in London, Belfast, and Dublin. Calabria is a truly fantastic location and with VFI creating some truly magnificent properties at very affordable prices this is a place in the sun you really can afford,

Give us a call today on Freephone 08006800704 or email us at sales@vfioverseasproperty.comVideo production by http://www.bestfive.tv View video on Youtube Property Italy Calabria Sicilia

VFI Investment Strategies

2008-07-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

There are numerous property investment strategies, and selecting the right one for you is critical. Your investment strategy choice should be the key factor in selecting the location and type of property that you invest in. In Italy there are typically two prime Investment Strategies:

Buy To Sell:

Buying property off-plan before the development starts, and then selling at, or before, completion and realizing the capital growth gained during the development cycle. By investing 30% of the property value on signing contracts and with annual property increases of 10-15%, you can realize a 20- 32% gain on the value of the property during the development period, equating to over a 100% return on the investment made. For this strategy, it is best to select a high quality, appealing property in a high growth area, which is close to all facilities and therefore very easy to sell on.

Exp: With the new ICMZ ruling on coastal development over 29,000 mile shoreline of the Mediterranean there is now no better time to invest in coastal properties . These properties where always in demand anyway for rental and re sale but with the new agreement on coastal development this will undoubtley boost coastal real estate and their worth will now go up because they effectively become more exclusive than ever before.

Buy to Rent:

Like buy to sell, buy to let involves buying off-plan before the development begins and then holding the property at completion for letting purposes, realizing both capital growth and income. With the right developments, the cost of mortgages and property management should be covered by the rental income, enabling long term capital gain without further investment. High quality apartments with an abundance of facilities, close to restaurants, bars and

Why Invest in Italy?

The key factors to be considered when making a property investment decision can be summarized simply, as:

A. Capital Growth - both historic and projected

B. Risk of the Investment

C. Ease of conducting business in the country

D. Financial Products available to support gearing the investment

A. Capital Growth

Numerous economic factors have fuelled high levels of growth in the Calabrian property market over the last few years, the level of investment in the infrastructure and the growing awareness and popularity of Calabria as an all year round holiday destination. This has resulted in Calabria becoming one of the fastest growing property investments markets in Europe, with annual property price increases of around 15-20%.

The ongoing investment in infrastructure, the growing popularity of Calabria as a holiday destination, and the relatively low prices compared with other popular European destinations such as Spain, France, Portugal, and other Mediterranean Islands support the expected and continued increase in property prices in Calabria/Italy for the foreseeable future.

B. Risk of the investment

Italy is one of the most secure places to invest, which is a major factor when making any investment decision. Here are some of the key points about Italy that we feel make it a good investment opportunity:

C. Ease of Conducting Business

Good mortgage and loan products are readily available on the market and are at very competitive rates.

The Italian legal system is highly evolved and modernized and if you are using an independent lawyer, the investment is extremely secure.

Bank Bonds are taken out against the investors initially invested funds. The bonds are taken out on 100% of investors funds. The developer must provide evidence of the bond to lawyers before the funds can be released. This bond is taken to the cost of the developer.

D. Leveraging the Investment

The finance options available and hence the level of gearing that you can make on your investment is one of the key factors that will determine the return on your investment. This should have an even greater impact than the increase in property prices, as it acts as a multiplier to the property market growth rates.

Readily available low contribution loans are fundamental in gearing your investment, and Italy now has a wide range of loans and mortgage products available making it an excellent location for gearing your investment. shops or high quality 2/3 bedroom penthouses and townhouses close to popular areas and facilities, with great views are best suited for renting.

Today's investors are always looking for the next market and, as a result, the wide choice of countries to invest in has grown significantly over the last few years, providing a wide and, at times, confusing choice.

Finding the property hotspots is only a part of the challenge. Investors need to balance this with the risks of investing in that market, along with the ease of conducting business. The finance options and investment gearing will also provide the investor with a much stronger investment decision whilst minimising the opportunity for significant losses.

Some of the key questions that you need to consider (apart from the predicted growth rates) when making an investment decision are:

What finance options are available, in what currency and what rates?

The level of financing or ‘gearing’ that you can make on your property investment is one of the key factors that will determine the return on your investment. This should have an even greater effect than the increases in property prices, as it acts as a multiplier to the property market growth rates.

For example, if you invest in an emerging country with say a 30% growth per year without a financing option, then a £50,000 investment could be worth £84,500 in two years, providing a £34,500 gain and a 69% return on investment, and typically at a high level of risk.

If you invest the same £50,000 in a strong market, with annual property price growth at say 15% and good finance options, for example financing at 80% LTV, then £50,000 could be invested in property worth £250,000. The investment could be worth £330,625 over two years, providing a gain of £80,625 and 161% return on the investment in a much safer and more stable market.

Overseas Property Rental Potential

The area is popular with people from northern Italy and also with Germans and Scandinavians who have discovered its natural beauty and reasonable prices. During the holiday season there is already strong demand for rental property. Investors need to be aware that the rental market is developing and the lucrative UK market is virtually untouched.

As awareness of the area increases and availability of holiday rental property increases (further increasing awareness and visitor numbers) there should be strong growth in high season rental demand.

Low season rental demand is also likely to increase as facilities are improved and more of the new property owners start to use and promote the area and their property in the low season.

Conclusion

The area stands to benefit from massive inwards investment in its infrastructure. Each year the higher property prices in the north of Italy migrate further south as property investors seek out value for money. This area has the right location and climate, it is getting the right infrastructure investment, it just needs additional publicity, holiday home buyers and overseas property investors to discover it and the prices will increase strongly.

This is a chance to get there before the professionals and own an overseas property that could turn out to be an excellent investment.

2008-07-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

Calabria events and festivals

In Calabria every village celebrates the feast of its Patron Saint that is an event accompanied by remarkable folk shows.

In Tropea the inhabitants celebrate the Madonna of Romania Feast on the 8th September and Madonna dell’Isola on the 15th August.

Tropea festivals

Festival of the Red Tropea’s onion and of the azure fish on the 27th July
Fair of the Virgin Mary’s Annunciation on the 23 March
Folk festival of I Tri Cruci on 3rd May
Procession of dead Christ (Good Friday)
Saint Antonio on the 13th July
Carmine’s Virgin Mary on the 16th July
Saint Gerardo on the 16th October
Little market of Artigianato in Piazza (Galluppi small square in the summer period)
Cheese, fish, fruit and vegetables market (Every day in Contura locality)

Events in other Calabria villages

Fishes fest on the 27th July - Pizzo Calabro
Beer fest on the 3rd August - S.Domenica di Ricadi
Festival of the fishes and crushed ice drink festival on the 3rd August - Parghelia
"Red Onion Festival", La Sagra della Cipolla Rossa: every year on 13th of August. The festival starts in the mid-afternoon with a variety of games are played in Piazza Marconi, the main square of the village:
The traditional ‘Pignata’ Tournament in which the contestants are blindfolded and, helped by bystanders, use a long wooden stick to break one or more pignatas, or terra-cotta pots, which are suspended from a string. Pignatas are sometimes filled with water. The ‘Bumbuleju’ Race is for women of all ages. Contestants … race from one end of the square to the other, carrying the terra-cotta pot on their heads without using their hands. Other games include the Egg Race, the Sack Race, the Mini-marathon, the Onion Race, the Cheese-rolling tournament; Typical onion-dish sampling starts at dinner time. At exactly midnight the ‘Camejuzzu i Focu’ dance is performed. The traditional fireworks display closes the festival.
"Ice-Cream Festival": each summer, in July.
Tipical product’s fest on 13th August - Zambrone
Fileja fest (speciality of pasta) on the 13th August - Briatico.
Zippula fest (kind of pancake) on the 22th August - Parghelia

VFI INCALABRIA

2008-07-22T08:06:00.000-07:00

Tourism in Calabria has increased over the years. The main tourist draws in Calabria are the coastline and the mountains. The coastline alternates between rugged cliffs and sandy beaches, and is sparsely interrupted by development when compared to other European seaside destinations. The sea around Calabria is clear, and there is a good level of tourist accommodation. The poet Gabriele D'Annunzio called the coast facing Sicily near Reggio Calabria "...the most beautiful kilometer in Italy" (il più bel chilometro d'Italia). The primary mountain tourist draws are Aspromonte and La Sila, with its national park and lakes. Some other prominent destinations include:

Reggio Calabria, on the strait between the mainland and Sicily, the largest and oldest city in Calabria, renowned for its fabulous panoramic seaside with botanical gardens between the art nouveau buildings and the beautiful beaches, and its 3,000 years of history with the old Aragonian Castle and the great National Museum of Magna Grecia where the famous Riace Warriors (Bronzi di Riace) are located.
Cosenza, seat of the Cosentian Academy, is renowned for its cultural institutions, the old quarter, a Romanesque Cathedral and a Swabian Castle.
Sybaris, on the Ionian sea, is a village situated near the excavation of ancient Sybaris, a Greek colony of the VII century B.C.
Scilla, on the Tyrrhenian Sea, "pearl" of the "Violet Coast", has delightful panorama, important religious traditions, and is the site of some of Homer's tales.
Tropea, on the Tyrrhenian Sea coast, is a beautiful town, with a drammatic seaside beach, and the Santa Maria dell'Isola sanctuary. It is also renowned for its sweet red onions (mainly produced in Ricadi).
Capo Vaticano on the Tyrrhenian Sea, is a very famous wide bathing place near Tropea.
Siderno on the Ionian Sea coast.
Gerace, near Locri, is a beautiful medieval city with a Norman castle and an ancient cathedral.
Squillace, a seaside resort and important archeological site
Stilo, the home of Tommaso Campanella, with its Norman castle and beautiful Byzantine church, the Cattolica.
Pizzo, on the Tyrrhenian Sea coast, known for its ice cream called "Tartufo". Interesting places in Pizzo are Piazza Repubblica and the Aragonian castle where Murat was murdered.
Soverato on the Ionian Sea, Also known as the "Pearl" of the Ionian Sea. Especially renown for its beaches, boardwalk and nightlife.
Nicotera on the Tyrrhenian Sea, is a beautiful little medieval Town with an ancient Ruffo's castle.